News

More Than 1,000 Items Donated to Clothing Drive for NYNY!

For Immediate Release:

Contact:
Anita Fee
anita.fee@newyorkneedsyou.org

MORE THAN 1,000 ITEMS DONATED TO CLOTHING DRIVE FOR NYNY, NEW YORK CITY’S ONLY NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION FOCUSING ON THE SUCCESS OF FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS

New York, NY - The Mentor Leadership Council (MLC) of New York Needs You (NYNY) hosted its fall clothing drive on September 24, 2011, securing donations of more than 1,000 items for Fellows in the NYNY program. More than 75 donors provided clothing and accessories valued at a total of $10,000, giving Fellows, who are the first in their family to attend college, the opportunity to “shop” for professional attire. High-end items, donated by members of the NYNY community, were distributed through a raffle.

Lord & Taylor generously donated shopping bags for the clothing drive and 25 volunteers within the NYNY community donated their time, providing logistical support and ensuring that all Fellows were served.

The clothing drive was the second of its kind this year organized by the MLC, a group of NYNY Mentor Coaches tasked with optimizing the Mentor Coach and volunteer experience. The successful event has had an immediate impact, preparing Fellows for professional opportunities while engaging the wider NYNY community for a great cause.

"The clothing drive is another great example of how NYNY goes above and beyond to set up these young adults for success. Many college students today need help identifying and acquiring proper business attire. Some organizations may provide training on what is appropriate to wear in the workplace, but they stop there. NYNY took it a step further.  At the clothing drive, the Fellows not only received guidance on how to dress for work, but they were able to take home some great pieces to start building their business wardrobe!” 
                                                              -Tia Cummings, MLC, NYNY Mentor Coach

“I would like to express my utmost gratitude to everyone who donated items to the clothing drive. The business attire that I received boosts my confidence in my appearance and will only add to my ability to make a great impression on a potential employer. Our Mentor Coaches and volunteers provided us with clothing while also giving us advice on what to wear during which occasions, much like older brothers and sisters would do for their younger siblings. I plan to wear these clothes during internships, interviews and networking opportunities.
                                                              -Felix, NYNY Fellow

NYNY closes the opportunity gap through the most intensive career mentorship program in NYC, enabling high-potential, first-generation college students to realize their career aspirations.  The organization was launched after NYNY’s President and Founder, Robert Reffkin, uncovered significant empirical data indicating that the education level of parents, family structure and socio-economic conditions have a significant influence on the economic mobility of youth. The primary components of the NYNY curriculum are college success and career development. Through the NYNY Fellowship, first-generation college students will have the support necessary to reach their full potential.  For additional information on NYNY, visit: www.newyorkneedsyou.org