Built for Success

Dress for Success Greater Orlando (DSGO) is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) organization located in Winter Park. Its mission is to promote economic independence for women by providing career development, professional attire and a network of support to empower them to thrive in work and life.

Dress for Success is a global nonprofit organization that is dedicated to improving the lives of women located in more than 145 cities and across 20 countries. The core services that the organization provides are assistance with obtaining professional clothing for interviews and guidance for new employment, employment retention programs and career development support programs.

DSGO has been serving the Central Florida area since 2001 and has served nearly 10,000 women since its inception. Women are referred to the organization by a diverse group of agencies that include homeless and domestic violence shelters, substance abuse recovery facilities and job training programs. No fees are charged to either the clients or the member agencies that utilize the organization’s services.

Women initially visit DSGO to receive appropriate interview clothing. The client receives a suit, a blouse, shoes, jewelry and a handbag on her visit. She also receives career coaching to help empower her for the interview. Once the client secures a job, she participates in something the organization calls a “second suiting.” This is an opportunity to secure a week’s worth of business-appropriate separates along with an invitation to join the Professional Woman’s Group for career development.

DSGO serves women throughout Central Florida, and 70 percent of its clients are single mothers who are raising an average of two to three children. One hundred percent of these women live below the poverty level. This need within the community pushes those involved with DSGO to continually strive to empower women in sustaining their families and in building better communities every single day.

How You Can Help:

1. Donate a new computer to the organization’s career center.
2. Donate clothing items like women’s suits size 18+ and women’s shoes size 10+.
3. Volunteer in the areas of personal styling, administration, event planning, marketing, merchandising, fundraising and career coaching.