I’m so excited that I finally get to share your story Jerri! You are always sharing the amazing stories of the clients you have helped and there aren’t enough about you! I want people to know what a powerhouse you are. You started Working Wardrobes, which assists men, women, at risk youth and veterans overcoming difficult challenges almost 30 years ago. Your clients are referred from over 60 programs throughout Southern California and I’ve seen firsthand the dignity that you have given them as well as the Power of a Paycheck. I also love how this organization empowers volunteers and that community.
Let’s start at the beginning- where were you raised? We have talked about how you inherited your father’s DNA for being a “social entrepreneur” and loving being your own boss.
I’m an east coast person, born in a tiny town called Charleroi in southwest Pennsylvania. My family moved to a ‘larger’ tiny town called Uniontown and my parents began their business. The Turntable was a record and music store in the day when 78s, 45s and LPs were big!
After quite the successful career with your own advertising agency, how did you get the courage to leave that behind to start a non-profit in 1990?
I did love the advertising world and working with clients in many industries. Being the ‘suit’ in our business taught me every discipline I needed to start my own agency and then Working Wardrobes. My success with clients came from really listening to what they said they wanted. I always delivered what they asked for and I always delivered more than that, because I took the time to think about their business from an objective perspective. And every time, I sold more ideas because they could see the value I was bringing to them.
That has informed the way I want to work with volunteers – always thinking about what I can do to make their work with us more meaningful and to provide the tools that they need before they know they need them and to keep engaged with our business. Anticipating ways to serve them continues to be important and relevant every day.
What are the biggest challenges in running a non-profit?
We’re a business much like any for profit – we just don’t pay taxes. So we have many of the same challenges:
- Making sure we have the right talent for each role.
- Finding ways to ensure we are financially sustainable today and into the future.
- Being alert and aware of any opportunity to build a relationship that will add value to the individual, the company and WW.
What is your favorite part of running Working Wardrobes?
Seeing success wherever it lands. With a client who has gotten a job, a staffer who has opened a new door and built a relationship, a new board member who brings great energy and ideas to us. I will say that my most favorite part is connecting and with a past client who I might meet socially who so willingly shares his/her journey to success and how we played a role in that process. It’s been happening more often of late and every story has a special place in my heart.
I read that there are over 6,000 non-profit charities in Orange County, CA alone! How do you break away from the pack and garner support? It must be hard to compete against other charities whose causes are cancer and health. Not everyone understands the circle of what the Power of a Paycheck can accomplish, which I have seen and now understand. It affects the whole family, and the pride that comes out of a job. There is actually a Career Center at the Working Wardrobe headquarters that is a large part of the program.
Like any business category, there is a lot of clutter in the nonprofit world, but staying power has its benefits. We have an excellent reputation and track record built over our ‘first’ 29 years and we’ve reached a lot of people. Because over 3000 people volunteer with us each year we reach a broad spectrum of people.
When we add in the thousands and thousands of volunteers who have worked with us over 29 years, the 100,000+ clients we’ve served and the tens of thousands of people who have donated clothing, we’ve developed name recognition. I’ve spoken to hundreds of organizations and companies over the years and they have rarely said no!!
However, our job is nowhere near done! We want everyone in Orange County to come in and tour our Career Center because there is so much that we provide for our clients. So much more than clothing! Nearly everyone who has been in for a tour says the same thing – I had NO idea you did so much!
There is a lot more to be done to raise our own voices. I’m going to launch a podcast this year and we want to reach even more people with that. And I do take opportunities like this interview to heart and appreciate the outreach!
Can you tell us what you think Working Wardrobes /VetNet does best? What is the most important thing you would want someone who is thinking about donating, underwriting, volunteering etc. to know?
What we do best is to give men, women, young adults and veterans the tools they need to become successful. We’ve added innovative programs over the years and are always on the lookout to add more value offerings for our clients.. . . .
It may be listening to them and finding a path to success that works for them.
It could be a specific training.
It just might be a job interview.
It might even be their own Success Suit.
One of my favorite parts of my involvement with you at Working Wardrobes is the special events you hold at Camp Pendleton and other locations for transitioning Marines and other military branches who are exiting and heading into the civilian workforce. Those days are so special for me to see the men and women who have served our country receiving some much needed encouragement, training and wardrobing to assist in their success once outside of the military. How did you connect WW and VetNet?
I share your joy in these events – they have been highlights for me as well. The original connection with Camp Pendleton came when we donated thousands of evening dresses from our prom events to the military spouses so they could attend the Marine Ball. We turned what was excess to us into a remarkably rich relationship!
We were awarded an Outstanding Volunteer group at a ceremony on the Base and I met the
General’s wife – Gail Waldheuser. She asked me to facilitate an image workshop for officers’ wives. Wow, that was an amazing experience and I found the women fantastic. They get it done!
Our first event to serve transitioning Marines and Sailors was a direct result of Gail’s impact and influence – and I’ll never forget her. Truth be told, her husband, General Thomas Waldheuser was equally memorable and gave a powerful speech to the men the day of our event. He actually congratulated them on courage in the face of the next step in their lives.
We made a lot of friends on base and have loved serving both male and female transitioning Marines and Sailors. They are humble, grateful and so wonderfully fun to work with. I’m very proud to offer our services to the men and women who have elected to serve our country.
I was so honored last year that you asked me to co-chair the Working Wardrobe/VetNet Gala, and this year you asked me to chair the event again which is coming up next month on Saturday, June 29th ( click on link to attend or support). I can’t say no to you or the cause! I’m so excited that it will be at the Marconi Automotive Museum which will make it so interesting and fun while supporting an incredible organization! If you’d like to attend with friends/spouses/co-workers/clients, this is one event where they will not be bored as there is so much to see and do! In addition to having one of the largest private car collections in North America to see, we are going to have an exciting live and silent auction. Can you explain why it is so important for nonprofits to have a Gala or large function and how companies can benefit from sponsoring or attending?
Our annual Gala is the best experience we can share with donors and corporate sponsors as we showcase what we accomplish through the voices of our Success Stories. We have found over the years that when we share with new donors and companies what we do and want to do more of, the response is overwhelmingly positive.
Companies can specifically connect with a nonprofit that is making a significant impact in the community and the ‘halo effect’ of working with us and supporting us is a great message to their employees and customers. We always believe in giving as much as we’re getting and we want our corporate partners to feel engaged and acknowledged.
Beyond that you and your fabulous committee members create such a fun environment that everyone enjoys the evening. There are hundreds of events every year and I’ve heard such raves from donors who willingly put our on calendar each year! That’s a tribute to the hard work and creativity you have brought to us and I’m so appreciative.
What advice do you have for women/men that are interested in volunteering or dedicate themselves to a charity? I was introduced to Working Wardrobes and VetNet by some dear friends of mine I was working on a project with. We took a tour and I found that it was a great fit for me being I have ties to personal shopping and styling, and I also love to support anything that assists our veterans.
First let me thank your dear friends! You have become so involved and valuable to our work! You’ve generously shared our mission with your friends and your retail contacts and opened so many doors for us. This is the best of building trusted relationships.
I believe volunteering is just great for the soul! It’s how I started Working Wardrobes – recruiting friends who were mostly entrepreneurs to lend a hand, talent and connections, and I’m still at that. What I do believe is that giving our gifts in a volunteer capacity makes our lives richer. It did for me for the first 12 years when I volunteered to keep Working Wardrobes running. It’s true today and in large measure why so many of our volunteers are with us for many years.
We all experience turbulence and disconnection in our lives for many reasons today. Our work is so hands on and connected that I know we fill an important place in people’s lives and can do that for many more people.
One of our most important functions is to provide the right opportunity for each volunteer and when we hit our mark it’s just magic for everyone.
I am so grateful that I have so many businesses and friends that have been so generous to WW/VetNet. I think the fun part about it is rallying people together for a good cause is that everyone wins! Seeing the smiles on everyone’s faces in real time is so rewarding. You have some amazing partnerships with dynamic companies. The great thing about this organization is that there are so many opportunities to do something that fits with you, your family, your business. It’s not just about writing a check- there is also an opportunity to participate!
There is no end to the partnerships and connections that we need to make in our community because every single one helps us serve more clients. Every donor, every volunteer, every staffer has a sphere of influence and when we can tap in everyone wins.
I see all the amazing work that you and your team do, whether it is in-house in Irvine, or at your many events throughout So. Cal. assisting others in need. Can you share some of the incredible things you recently did to help with the fires? You really know how to rally when people are in need. Where do you need more help?
Our reach definitely expanded late last year as we were moved to help the fire victims in Paradise. It was a topic of conversation around the Thanksgiving table that I shared with a dear friend of mine, Karen Butera. We were going to take delivery of an enormous quantity of suits, shirts and pants from the Men’s Wearhouse and wanted to help as many people as we could with this bounty.
It was incredible to see the logistics of all this – two trucks drove in from Arizona and picked up 42 pallets of clothing and drove them to Paradise.
Josh Cook found an empty warehouse, recruited volunteers and a department store with racks and sorted merchandise was set up. Then they served, and served and served. Fire victims, first responders and hundreds from other area nonprofit organizations. It was sacred ground for so many who had lost everything. We cried for hours.
And then we got busy making sure our donors were aware of how valuable their donations were and how remarkable the teams were. We’re inspired to do even more in our own community to help the homeless and support organizations with the donations we are receiving.
You have been doing this for 30 years…where do you see WW/ VetNet going in the future?
I do see an ongoing need for our work today and well into the future. Even in this Orange County community of great affluence we have unemployment, underemployment, food insecurity and housing insecurity that affects thousands of individuals and families. We know that providing more training for individuals can move them up the ladder to jobs with dignity.
I want to see us impact this community in even more powerful and productive ways. We need to reach more of the under-employed people who cobble together 2 and 3 jobs just to keep a roof over their heads. This is the most vulnerable population because they face housing and food insecurity and they are part of an enormous underbelly of poverty in our community that most of us don’t see or understand. The underemployed people work in hospitality, retail and other low income hourly jobs and they struggle daily to provide basic needs for their families and themselves.
We need to reach more targeted populations in need. We’re developing a partnership with the Public Defender’s Office and working to impact individuals who are in custody or incarcerated. We can help them find meaningful work and we will make that happen.
There is more competition in the Veteran space with other nonprofits who have jumped in but I know that our impact is solid and positive. We will eventually see fewer veterans but will always have space for our programs to be provided to them.
You see so many people every day with such sad stories. How do you not let this get to you?
Our Career Success Institute and VetNet staff members are front line with clients every day. What keeps them strong and positive is our collective ability to help clients on a daily basis. We do find solutions and opportunities for success for as many people as we can.
But there are days that impact our souls because we can never achieve 100% success. That’s not even a goal because it isn’t achievable and we’ve accepted the fact that not everyone wants the help we can offer.
What we want is to be a beacon for as many clients as we can provide resources and tools to help.
I know that all this takes more fundraising, more volunteers and more awareness of what we do. What keeps me focused is knowing that our clients depend on us and we’re not about to let them down. Too much depends on our ability to serve them.
Can you tell me one of your favorite success stories- I’m sure you have many!
So many! But one that always brings me to tears is a young woman who was a survivor of domestic violence. She endured many, many challenges and violent attacks until she finally left her abuser with her children and everything she owned in one plastic clothes basket. She sought help in a safe shelter and was invited to one of our Client Success Events.
We provided a day of pampering which was more respite for her than we could imagine. She came to us for more training and we helped her find a job. She kept getting promoted until she could afford to complete her education and become a nurse. Against all odds, she made it happen for herself and her children.
When she returned to us as a powerful Success Story speaker, she brought that lonely plastic basket as a reminder of how very far she had traveled. Just one success story keeps me energized and on task! And loving what we can accomplish together.
Do you think you will retire anytime soon? I can’t believe your stamina!
That really is a loaded question! I do love what I do and my work has kept me excited and engaged. It’s also wonderful to work with many generations who keep me young. However I do know that there are opportunities in the future for a younger generation to move Working Wardrobes to a new level. We are spending time this year on developing a succession plan and I’m a happy champion of that idea.
At the same time, I do want to carve out a role for me in the future that allows me to do what I can do best – be available to meet and woo donors and volunteers. Hopefully at a slower pace!!!
Since meeting you 6 years ago and seeing all you do and what you have accomplished, you truly have been such an inspiration to me. Who inspires you?
YOU! And the truly remarkable volunteers and donors and staffers who help us deliver on our best work. I am encouraged by an active and dedicated Board of Directors who donate their time, expertise and financial resources. They are marvelous.
And on a daily basis I so appreciate the work each of our staff members do – whether it’s our CSI/VetNet team making a huge impact for our clients, our retail team making sure that customers come in often or our development team who juggles so many events and tasks and make them all seamless, this is a team that is dedicated to our mission.
In my heart of hearts, I also know that my parents have been watching me from heaven for many, many years and are so proud of the work I’ve chosen to do. We learn very early in life lessons that serve us well and my Dad always told me to leave people with a smile and a firm handshake. As a social entrepreneur, I follow his lessons and have added a few more to my own list.
Thank-you Jerri! You are truly amazing…
Working Wardrobes/VetNet
1851 Kettering Street
Irvine, CA 92614
714.210.2460
www.workingwardrobes.org
For more information on Working Wardrobes:
Info@workingwardrobes.org
For more information on volunteering at Working Wardrobes:
https://workingwardrobes.org/getinvolved/volunteer/