NEW ORLEANS – Dress for Success New Orleans will hold its eighth annual Suits and Salads Luncheon and Fundraiser at The Hyatt Regency Hotel, 601 Loyola Ave., on Friday, May 12, to benefit its programs promoting economic independence of women in the community.
This year’s event will feature keynote speaker, Simone Bruni Crouere, founder of Demo Diva, who is also donating 10 percent of dumpster sales to Dress For Success New Orleans during April and May of this year. There will also be a silent auction of items including an original painting of movie star Audrey Hepburn donated by Ashley Longshore Gallery valued at $6,500 and a raffle of diamond hoop earrings from Friend & Company.
The event will also present a Style Setter fashion show featuring local mothers and daughters, followed by a toast to moms in honor of Mother’s Day and the presentation of this year’s featured Dress for Success client and her story.
Proceeds from the 2017 luncheon will help Dress for Success meet its goal of suiting more than 425 women in 2017, reps said.
“This annual luncheon is our biggest fundraiser of the year and is so important to us because it not only helps raise much needed funds but also raises more awareness about the many programs we offer to change lives,” said Meaghan Ryan Bonavita, president of the New Orleans local chapter. “And change is what Dress for Success offers to their clients, helping women in transition, promoting economic independence. And it all starts with a suit.”
Event organizers said the fundraiser brings together men and women from the New Orleans community and beyond to celebrate and support the organization’s mission of empowering women by providing professional attire, a network of support and career development tools to help them thrive in work and in life.
Clients are invited to attend the Professional Women’s Group, a monthly program, which addresses financial literacy, work/life balance and health and wellness. Clients also receive enhanced services including resume writing, interview training and access to the Career Center.
The Dress for Success New Orleans boutique is located at 6117 Magazine St.
“The work that Dress for Success New Orleans does not only impacts the women that we serve, but also their families and the community,” said Bonavita. “When a woman gets a job and becomes financially independent, she can provide for her family and she sets a positive example for her children. Our clients come from every walk of life, every ethnicity and education level. They all have one thing in common: they want to do better. Dress for Success New Orleans provides that network of support to help them achieve their goals. We offer a hand up, not a hand out.”
Some of the major sponsors for the event include Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust, Carlson Family Foundation and Capital One.
The event program will include:
• 11:00 a.m. – Doors open for registration, silent auction bidding, specialty cocktails by CureCo
• 12:15 p.m. – Lunch, Dress for Success client success story, Style Setter fashion show, keynote speaker Bruni Crouere, Volunteer of the Year presentation and raffle
Silent auction highlights will include spa services, hotel stays, restaurant gift cards, interior design services, home décor, apparel, jewelry, children’s items and much more.
Juli Miller Hart, past president of Dress For Success New Orleans, will be the emcee of the event.
Tickets cost $85 individual; $125 Patron Sponsor; $250 Patron Pair.
Sponsorship opportunities include $650 Stylish Sponsor; $1,300 Suits and Salads Sponsor.
For tickets, sponsorships, silent auction bidding and raffle purchases
