Dress for Success to mark 20 years in Vancouver with fundraiser

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A lot of work has been done but there is more to do, says the new head of long-running charity Dress for Success. The organization, which aims to help women thrive in the workforce, is getting ready to mark its 20th anniversary, but Executive Director Amy Robichaud says there is more to accomplish.

Closing the wage gap between men and women in the city is one change Robichaud wants to see, adding she hopes Dress for Success Vancouver is a major player in making that happen.

Robichaud says she wants to get to a point where every woman that comes to the charity’s door is given exactly what she needs.

“Which means we need to grow. We need to work smarter, we need to work faster, and we need to not only do what we do really well which is help women land that job, we need to continue to grow the services that help women keep those jobs,” she says.

Dress for Success provides business clothing, career coaching, and development programs.

“We’re servicing about 2,200 woman a year as clients,” Robichaud says. “We know there’s triple that need, and so I’d love for our numbers to reflect that need over the next 20 years.”

The organization has a staff of seven and nearly 400 volunteers.

This year’s event has a roaring 20s theme in honour of the anniversary, happening May 8.