On November 4, 2011, Career Gear had the pleasure of working with a wonderful team from KingSize. KingSize brought an incredible amount of drive, focus and resources as a new corporate sponsor. Their experts created the new layout for our boutique, secured affordable and donated furniture/fixtures for the design and physically transformed our space in ONE day. It was an engaging and enjoyable experience for the KingSize volunteers, Career Gear’s longtime staff, and Career Gear participants. Thank you to our KingSize team: Susan, Kelly, Jennifer, Tony, Iling, Gabrielle, Isabelle, Erin, Alena, Caitlin, Hannah & Alisse for your design, expertise and hard work. Thank you to our PDS participants: Gary, Dennis, Bruce, Ken & Felix for your manpower.

We are so proud of the results.

 'Tis the season of giving!  We ask that this December you make a financial donation to Career Gear so we may expand our programming.  As you know our Suiting Program, Professional Development Series and new MAST Mentoring Program are flourishing. We need your support to help us serve more men. 

You can help make a big difference. Your gift to Career Gear this holiday season will be matched by a generous donor dollar for dollar. 

Make a gift today- click here

We appreciate your continued support. 

Warmly, 

The Career Gear Team

P.S. We have two other initiatives taking place this holiday season for all our fans on Facebook.

Pert Plus is running a promotion for us. For every new 'Like' on their page, Career Gear will receive $1, up to $5,000. In addition, you can personally enter the sweepstakes to win $5,000 just for you. Click here to enter.

Also, Blake Bradford is running another promotion that also financially benefits our programming. For every new 'Like' on their page, Career Gear will receive $1, up to $3,500. Click here to participate.

P.P.S. Thank you for all the wonderful clothing donations sent to us in 2011. We will not be accepting any more clothing donations in 2011 per our website's instructions since November. We will begin accepting clothing donations again starting January 10th in NYC. Kindly click here for the most up to date info on donating clothing.

Our Fall Fundraiser was an Evening to Remember!

Career Gear’s third annual fall festivity featured an incredible turnout of new supporters, faithful regulars, celebrity-obsessed and raffle-loving guests. John Allan’s Tribeca hosted the affair, opening up their shop for the three-hour party. Brooklyn Brewery and Vestry Wines donated the libations, which paired amazingly well with The Cleaver Co.’s organic spread. Myles Share & Associates generously donated funding for all other beverage needs. Career Gear supporters learned more about the mission and our burgeoning MAST mentor program by speaking with mentors and mentees alike. Career Gear’s board, Associate Board and staff welcomed new faces into the Career Gear family.

In addition, the crowd enjoyed the lively tunes of the band, “A Few Good Men,” which featured several Career Gear participants.

The evening was documented by our friendly photographers, Anival, a Career Gear participant and Career Gear Associate Board Member Chris Stella.

The Thomas Collective, Career Gear’s PR firm, the brains behind our third annual Celebrity Tie Drive, spearheaded the procurement and execution of our tie drive on CharityBuzz. The online bidding became very competitive on the last two days. This year’s drive featured signed celebrity ties by style icons such as, Tim Gunn, Carmelo Anthony and Jay Leno. Guests posed wearing their favorite celebrity’s accessory and begin bidding online at the event.  Also in attendance were winners from TTC’s Twitter giveaway contest that led up to the launch.

Our raffle was a big draw this year with over 20 great packages, featuring vacations and excursions, creating an exuberant and prize hungry crowd who were willing to give.

Thank you to all our guests for your support and energy. Special thanks to our participants for sharing your stories. Three cheers to our volunteers for enabling the event to run so smoothly, especially Career Gear’s Associate Board, The Thomas Collective, Jennifer W., Joanna P., Sharon B., Pedro, Felix, Carlos, Joan R., Lisa C. and Patty C.

Click here to see our photos on Facebook.

CELEBRITY TIE DRIVE KICK-OFF EVENT AND FALL FUNDRAISER

Invite your friends and celebrate with Career Gear

Please join us at our fall fundraising event where we will be launching our Celebrity Tie Drive. Drinks and light appetizers will be served. All guests will have the opportunity to try on the ties of style icons. The Celebrity Tie Drive auction goes live at the event and will end on December 6th. 

Click on the invitation or here to purchase tickets.

**Special thanks to our PR friends at The Thomas Collective who are the brains behind the Celebrity Tie Drive. Follow them @TTC_Tweets

Join us on Tuesday, September 27th at J.Crew's Rockefeller Center location for cocktails, style advice and shopping.

15% of proceeds will be donated to Career Gear and Y.E.S.!

RSVP to jcrewevents@jcrew.com.

We look forward to seeing you!

Career Gear's Advisory Board (CGAB) is comprised of young professionals committed to lending their time and talents to the organization. On August 22nd, they are hosting a barbecue event featuring local musicians, including the CGAB's own Chris Steib and his band The Read Letters. Come on out and join the fun!

Shorts take up less space in the drawer. They need less laundry detergent. They help prevent rear-knee sweat. Most of all, they’re comfortable, and when employees are comfortable, they’ll work faster. That's why the Raven Internet Marketing Tools software company dress code is “Business Shorts."

In honor of shorts' moment in the sun, Raven is kicking off a Best Business Shorts online photo contest. The contest is open to anyone who can wear shorts to work, and anyone can vote on the entries. (Contestants and voters will need to provide a valid Twitter account to prevent any short-stacking.)

The first-place winner, as chosen by popular vote, will receive a grand prize worth more than $1,200, including a $200 gift card to buy more office clothes and six months of Pro access to the Raven platform. Two runners up, as selected by guest judge Leta Malloy of Career Gear, each will receive a $50 clothing gift card and three months of Pro access to Raven.

The biggest winner is Career Gear, a national nonprofit that helps mentor and update the wardrobes of unemployed men in need. For every person who enters—and every person who votes—Raven will donate $1 to Career Gear, up to $5,000.

What, exactly, are "Business Shorts"? "Business shorts are any shorts that your business allows you to wear to work," said Arienne Holland, communications director for Raven. "It's okay if you own your own business. As for what might constitute the "best," that's completely up to the voters."

The Best Business Shorts photo contest starts on Wednesday, July 6, 2011, and it cuts off on Wednesday, August 24 at 11:59 p.m. CDT. Enter and vote online at http://raventools.com/contests/business-shorts.

Career Gear announced this week that Don Jones, Co-founder and Partner of Verite Capital Partners, will be honored for his achievements at the organization’s annual gala fundraiser, Capital Persuit, on May 3rd at the Hudson Terrace in New York City.

Don Jones is the Cofounder and Managing Partner of Verite Capital Partners, a retail and consumer products private equity fund focused on investing in and advising small businesses with revenues of less than $100 million.

CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO VIEW THE INVITATION AND PURCHASE INDIVIDUAL TICKETS



CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP PACKAGE

On February 9th, ten coaches from the International Coach Federation spent the day at Career Gear and provided personal sessions to 33 of our Professional Development Series Participants. The day was interactive, fun and our participants and facilitators equally enjoyed the day.

"I could not be happier with the directions the ICF has taken our Career Gear participants over the last 3 years," said Director of Programs Mike Obertacz. "We are extremely lucky as an organization to receive such support."

This was a first-of-its-kind programming event for Career Gear, and was well received by staff, participants and facilitators alike.

"The evening was equally inspiring to me, as it really has me rethinking courage. These guys really have it, and I'm so honored that they shared it with us," said ICF facilitator Heather J. Markel.



This day of giving by ICF has the potential to be the blueprint for future initiatives that help our participants further realize their potential.

"The men have personally expressed the impact... during the time the coaches dedicated to each of them," Obertacz added. "In an environment where so many of our clients are pushed from one program to another, one case manager to the next, it is truly uplifting watching such a transformation in their esteem and attitude from the kindness and direction (the) team provided."

Career Gear wishes to thank Laurie Lawson, President of the ICF New York Chapter, and all of the skilled and compassionate coaches for partnering with us in making an impact on the lives of the men we serve. Since 2008, ICF has been a valued partner with Career Gear.

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT