GIVING THE SUIT OFF YOUR BACK

GIVING THE SUIT OFF YOUR BACK
Volunteers of America Working Wardrobe and the Men’s Wearhouse Rally Rochester Residents to Donate Professional Clothing Items for the 7th Annual National Suit Drive

Rochester, NY (July 10, 2014)— Volunteers of America Upstate New York is partnering with Men’s Wearhouse, one of North America's largest men’s specialty retailers, to launch its seventh annual National Suit Drive, a month-long initiative that encourages donations of gently-used suits and professional attire. Clothing collected from the drive will be distributed to Volunteers of America Working Wardrobe program and over 180 other local nonprofit organizations that provide job ready skills and training to unemployed and underemployed men in Rochester and across the United States.

“Finding a job can be a difficult and competitive experience, but it can be even harder without the clothes to dress the part for an interview. By donating to the Men’s Wearhouse National Suit Drive you lend your support by giving men and women a look they feel proud of, which is just what they need to feel confident walking into a job interview,” commented JoAnne M. Ryan, President & CEO of Volunteers of America Upstate New York.  “Thanks to generous donations like this, each year our Working Wardrobe program is able to prepare over 650 men & women with interview attire as they work to create a better life for themselves and their families.”

Over the past six years, Men’s Wearhouse has collected over 650,000 professional clothing donations to support unemployed individuals seeking to re-enter the workforce and this year, the goal is to collect another 150,000 clothing items. Through July 31, residents of Rochester can donate their gently-used clothing, including men’s and women’s suits, ties, jackets, shirts, pants, belts and shoes, at three area Men’s Wearhouse locations (Greece Ridge, Jefferson Road and Victor). As a thank you, donors will receive 50 percent off their next purchase from Men’s Wearhouse (excluding shoes, clearance and Exceptional Value items). 

“Making a good first impression is never more important than during a job interview.  The National Suit Drive empowers men by helping them to look and feel their best even in challenging times,” said Doug Ewert, President and CEO of The Men's Wearhouse, Inc. “We know there is a story behind every suit collected, and we want to give each recipient the opportunity to write a new chapter.”

#GIVEASUIT AND SPREAD THE WORD

Just as a song can transport the listener back to a moment in time, so can certain suits trigger memories of a special occasion. To help spread the word about the National Suit Drive, Men’s Wearhouse is asking consumers to participate by sharing personal suit stories and images with the hashtag: #giveasuit. In addition, Men’s Wearhouse will donate a dollar (up to $20,000) to the local non-profit organizations it partners with if consumers do any of the following:

Follow @MensWearhouse on Twitter or Instagram
Tweet #giveasuit
Share or upload a photo of a clothing donation with #giveasuit
Share any of the videos found on www.nationalsuitdrive.com with their social networks

For more information, visit www.voaupny.org or the National Suit Drive website at www.nationalsuitdrive.com.

About Men’s Wearhouse

Founded in 1973, Men's Wearhouse is one of North America's largest specialty retailers of men's apparel with 1,128 stores.  The Men's Wearhouse, Moores and K&G stores carry a full selection of suits, sport coats, furnishings and accessories in exclusive and non-exclusive merchandise brands and Men's Wearhouse and Tux stores carry a limited selection.  Most K&G stores carry a full selection of women's apparel.  Tuxedo rentals are available in the Men's Wearhouse, Moores and Men's Wearhouse and Tux stores.  Additionally, Men's Wearhouse operates a global corporate apparel and workwear group consisting of Twin Hill in the United States and Dimensions, Alexandra and Yaffy in the United Kingdom.  Investors can find additional information at http://ir.menswearhouse.com.

About Volunteers of America Upstate New York

Volunteers of America is a premier non-profit human service organization that serves 6,000 men, women and children annually in Upstate New York.  The agency’s mission is to empower people in our community to rise out of poverty, move toward self-reliance, and reach their full potential. Success is demonstrated through measurable, positive change in the lives of the individuals, families and communities we serve.  This is accomplished through programs such as housing and support services for homeless individuals and families; educational programs and care for at-risk children; reentry programs for individuals leaving correctional facilities; lifeskills training, and employment assistance.

Local Contact details:
Megan Alchowiak
Volunteers of America Upstate NY Marketing and Media Director
Office: (585) 402-7255
megana@voaupny.org

For further information contact the Men’s Wearhouse Press Office:
MWW for Men’s Wearhouse
Emily Collawn
menswearhouse@mww.com
646-351-8510