Neighbor News
Be The Star Of Your Story
Dress for Success Central NJ holds annual fundraiser to support women's empowerment.
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – On Thursday, October 25, 2018, Dress for Success Central NJ (DFSCNJ) held its signature fundraising event, Cocktails for a Cause, at Cobblestone Creek Country Club in Lawrenceville. This year’s theme, “Be the Star of Your Story,” celebrated the hundreds of women the organization assists each year who are taking control of their lives and taking the necessary steps towards making a better future both emotionally and financially, for themselves and their families. 175 people attended Cocktails for a Cause; many were DFSCNJ clients who have successfully found employment after graduating from one DFSCNJ’s eight signature workforce development programs.
Complete with Red Carpet, DFSCNJ Success Ambassadors were cheered on as they made their way down the Red Carpet. Thanks to Diversestyle Salon and cosmetics by Catelli, DFSCNJ clients were made Red Carpet ready.
“Our clients looked confident and ready to take on the world,” stated Melissa Tenzer, Executive Director, DFSCNJ.
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Honorary host was former 6-ABC Action News reporter Nora Muchanic, who did a fantastic job emceeing the event.
On-air television personality, cancer survivor and philanthropy advocate, Barbara Majeski was the Individual Event Honoree. Majeski shared some very personal stories, including how as a child, her family received charitable donations in order to celebrate the holidays; as well as her cancer diagnosis and year-long battle with the disease. Her message to the evening’s guests, and especially the women whom are served by Dress for Success, was that through determination and perseverance you can face any circumstance and come out on top. Majeski’s global lifestyle initiative “Curator of the Good Life,”is a three-dimensional endeavor dedicated to inspiring people to live with purpose, style and adventure.
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The real stars of the night however, were the two DFSCNJ Success Ambassadors who bravely shared their stories on how they overcame obstacles and are now leading lives filled with happiness and success.
Josette, who has found success by securing a manager position stated, “It’s the support and positive nurturing atmosphere that Dress provided me and that’s what I needed to get on track.”
Sarah spoke of how she has taken her power back and is focusing on herself and career. Her life is going to be what she wants it to be.
“Our women have been so brave to share their hardships and stories of triumph to raise awareness for women and girls everywhere. We all have the power to change our lives once we take control of it,” says Tenzer. “The women tonight were celebrated for getting to the next level in life, whatever that may be.”
Tenzer also acknowledged event co-chairs, Denise Taylor and Debbie Schaeffer, Diana Lang Photography, Sarah Copley Media, Monday Morning Flowers and Balloon Company, and Sound Choice DJ
In addition to Majeski, this year’s partner honorees included Corporate Honoree Saul, Ewing, Arnstein & Lehr, LLP and Community Honoree Bristol-Myers Squibb. Sponsors included Wells Fargo, John Celentano, Majeski Foundation, AT&T, PNC, Capital Health, Wawa, Mercadien, Ernst & Young, investorsBank, Withum, Smith & Brown, and Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce.
The money raised from Cocktails for a Cause, will help fund the full continuum of career programs and services provided by Dress for Success Central NJ which empower women to achieve economic independence. To learn more about DFSCNJ visit https://centralnj.dressforsuccess.org/. You can also follow DFSCNJ on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
About Dress for Success Central New Jersey
Dress for Success Central New Jersey is dedicated to empowering women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. The organization provides job readiness, educational, career mentoring and image enhancement programs that support clients through every stage of their employment journey – from pre-employment needs to professional development. Since opening its doors in 2007, DFSCNJ has served 6,000 women and girls.
