1998 - 2005: Dress for Success

In late 1998, eight visionary women in Jacksonville gathered to consider the plight of low-income women in the community and how they could make a difference in the lives of these women. On June 29, 1999 the Board of Directors adopted the Dress for Success mission statement and officially became Dress for Success Northeast Florida (DSNF), an affiliate of Dress for Success Worldwide.

 

Thanks to ALLTEL Information Systems the doors opened in December 1999 and our first client was dressed in March 2000. We moved to our permanent home - a ten-room house in downtown Jacksonville - in September, 2000. We remain very grateful to the First United Methodist Church for making this facility available to us rent-free in exchange for renovations.

 

In July, 2003, we moved to  our present location, thanks to WorkSource, the regional workforce development agency.  Our agreement with WorkSource allows us to serve women from the WorkSource Career Center at 215 N. Market Street in the heart of downtown Jacksonville.

 

2006:  Success Suits You

In late 2005, the Board of Directors voted to revert back to a local agency helping women, and notified Dress for Success Worldwide that we would end our affiliation.  Dress for Success of Northeast Florida was proud to be a Dress for Success affiliate for 5 years.  DFS Worldwide provided us with tremendous support, both financial and technical.  We are continuing our service to women in Jacksonville under our new name and local direction.