Women Giving Back Honored with “Best of Reston” Award for Providing Clothing – and Confidence – to Women & Children in Crisis

Women Giving Back was honored at the annual “Cornerstones of Our Community - 2017 Best of Reston Awards” as winner of the Best of Reston Civic-Community Engagement award. Women Giving Back runs a clothing donation center and store to provide women and children from local homeless shelters and transitional housing programs with professional and “trendy” clothing at no cost, building confidence and self-esteem for many vulnerable and at-risk women and children struggling to be successful in school and in the workplace.

Women Giving Back (WGB) shared the Best of Reston Civic-Community Engagement Award with the Wolf Trap Foundation, honored for its work enriching the lives of children through the arts.

The Best of Reston Community Service Awards, organized by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Cornerstones, honor individuals, organizations, businesses and partnerships in the greater Reston/Dulles community that make distinctive differences in the lives of others. The annual award celebration and gala, held on April 6, raises funds and showcases community involvement and corporate philanthropy and engagement.

“We are thrilled to be honored with this award, especially this year – which marks the 10 year anniversary of the launch of Women Giving Back to help at-risk women and children fully and confidently participate in work and school, by ensuring they have access to clothes that they can walk tall and feel proud in,” said WGB president Terri Stagi. “We have partnered with hundreds of companies large and small, scout troops, church/synagogue groups, school groups and more on clothing drives and volunteer days. We have an active roster of over 5000+ volunteers who help run the donation center and store. Our work to serve homeless women and children in the NoVa community is achievable because of the commitment and engagement of so many other individuals and local organizations who help support us in our mission.”

Since its founding in 2007, WGB has provided more than 500,000 items of gently-used clothing free of charge to approximately 50,000 women and children in crisis. More than 100 local shelter and supportive housing organizations send their clients and residents to WGB. Operating from a recently renovated and expanded store and donation center in Sterling, Va., WGB today is able to provide free clothing for work and school to more than 6,000 qualified clients each year.

Women Giving Back will be celebrating its 10th anniversary at its annual Cinco de Mayo fundraiser event held May 4th at its store. WGB encourages members of the local Northern Virginia community to “donate confidence” and share in celebrating its 10th year of service by attending or sponsoring the event, and/or donating 10 articles of women’s or children’s clothing, 10 bags of clothing, or volunteering 10 hours of time at its store or donation center.