Dress for Success Quad Cities Helps Put More Local Women to Work with Implementation of Successful

Job Preparation Program

The Going Places Network by Walmart was created in response to the demands of today's challenging economic climate and serves as a safety net for local women who have been unable to acquire a job. The program launched in 60 affiliates across the U.S. in 2011 and enjoyed great success during its first year. Highlights include :

• Nearly 3,000 women participated in the Going Places Network by Walmart in 2011.
• At least 41% of women who completed the program secured employment by the conclusion of their cohort.
• All of the women who participated in the program gained valuable skills, knowledge and experiences to assist them with searching for employment, attaining their individualized personal and professional goals, and ultimately achieving self-sufficiency.

Walmart donated $2 million to help Dress for Success Worldwide support The Going Places Network and its 60 participating affiliate locations across the U.S. This program gives disadvantaged women across the country the added confidence they need to better compete in this challenging job market by providing women with very specific tools and resources that they need to successfully land a job.

Dress for Success Quad Cities is one of three new affiliates that is considered a "top performing" affiliate and was invited to join in the second year of the national program. Dress for Success Quad Cities is currently reaching out to recruit local unemployed women to join the first cohort group. The Going Places Network by Walmart will meet twice a week for six weeks starting in September 2012 and two cohort groups are planned.

The program is not available to the general public. Women must either be one of their previously "suited" clients who remains unemployed or be referred by one of Dress for Success QC's approved Referral Partnering agencies. Referral Partners are nonprofit organizations or institutions that are helping low-income or displaced women with training, rehabilitation, transitional housing, or could be a local workforce development program such as Promise Jobs or Iow@ Work.

Dress for Success has more than 120 affiliates globally and served an estimated 65,000 women last year through its nationwide efforts. The Going Places Network by Walmart helps disadvantaged women gain professional skills, accelerate their job search and build confidence.

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are committed to funding opportunities that provide workforce training and development. Read more about the Walmart Foundation's efforts to help people get back to work.

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About Dress for Success Quad Cities

Dress for Success Quad Cities initiative was started in July 2010 by Regina Haddock of Davenport, Iowa. Regina has an M.S. Ed degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and has worked in student support and career services, as well as program development and management. She was working part time as an advisor for the lia sophia jewelry company, a major corporate sponsor of Dress for Success, and was inspired to start an affiliate in the Quad Cities!

On November 1, 2011, doors opened to low resource women who were entering or re-entering the workforce. Referrals from agencies started to trickle in. We received a $2,500 equipment grant from the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend and were later awarded a $30,000 grant from the Scott County Regional Authority for supplies and equipment. In December 2011, our founder was awarded Royal Neighbors of America's Nation of Neighbors award for $7,500, to allow her to continue to develop this new affiliate.

Community support continues to grow! Early grants were followed in 2012 by a generous $30,000 match grant from the Hubbell-Waterman Foundation of Davenport, Iowa, and smaller grants by the following: Alcoa Community Chest, Modern Woodmen of America, Moline Foundation, King's Daughters Jane Addams Circle, and others.

Volunteers are always welcome and new board member positions are available. Visit our website for more information: www.dressforsuccess.org/quadcities

About Philanthropy at Walmart

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are proud to support initiatives that are helping people live better around the globe. In May 2010, Walmart and its Foundation made a historic pledge of $2 billion through 2015 to fight hunger in the U.S. The Walmart Foundation also supports education, workforce development, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness initiatives. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.

America's youngest heroes may not serve in a traditional sense, but they make sacrifices as well. Modern Woodmen of America has committed to donate $30,000 to support Operation Purple camps in 2011. This will be completed by fundraising by members across the country and a donation from the organization.

To help military families, the National Military Family Association launched Operation Purple camps in 70 locations across the nation. At camp, children of deployed military parents come together to make friends and experience the great outdoors.

Modern Woodmen adult chapters and youth service clubs across the country are assisting in the fundraising effort by selling patriotic window clings in January, February and March 2011. To support the effort, patriotic window clings are available for a donation by contacting Ann Held at 786-6481, ext. 7427.

"This is a way we can thank our nation's military for their sacrifice," says Steve Van Speybroeck, Modern Woodmen's Fraternal Director. "We are grateful for the opportunity to support the children while these men and women bravely serve our nation."

In what other ways does Modern Woodmen support our troops?

Modern Woodmen members across the country support veterans through chapters and youth service clubs. Members donate to and visit VA hospitals, collect items to send to troops overseas and raise money for veterans in need. Veterans are also honored along with other community members through Modern Woodmen's Hometown Heroes program.

How did Modern Woodmen support Quad-Cities area veterans and active military in 2010?

o  Modern Woodmen sponsored an entire Honor Flight, sending 100 World War II veterans who are also Modern Woodmen members to Washington, D.C. The veterans visited war memorials, enjoyed time with other Modern Woodmen members and were honored during a special program at Modern Woodmen's 41st National Convention.

o  Modern Woodmen employees partnered with AmeriCorps and the River Bandits to assemble 300 America Cares packages for veterans and their children at the VA Hospital in Iowa City. These bags included items that many veterans desperately need, including snacks, personal care items and phone cards.

o  Modern Woodmen employees beautified the Eagles Nest Veterans Home, a Davenport home for homeless veterans. The volunteers cleared the yard, planted nearly 100 plants and a tree, and covered graffiti.

o  Modern Woodmen members wrote thank-you cards to Honor Flight veterans. More than 200 of these messages were delivered to the World War II veterans on the Honor Flight.

o  Modern Woodmen sponsored WQAD's flight to Egypt, where reporters told the stories of local military men and women and taped video messages to loved ones at home.

What are other ways Modern Woodmen gives back to the Quad Cities community?

o  Modern Woodmen employees donate more than $100,000 annually to area organizations including United Way. All donations are matched by Modern Woodmen.

o  Annually, the Quad Cities received more than $221,000 through fraternal programs - including chapters, youth service clubs, fraternal benefits and youth educational programs.

As a tax-exempt fraternal benefit society, Modern Woodmen sells life insurance, annuity and investment products not to benefit stockholders but to improve the quality of life of its stakeholders - members, their families and their communities.  This is accomplished through social, charitable and volunteer activities.  Annually, Modern Woodmen and its members provide more than $23 million and nearly 1 million volunteer hours for community projects nationwide.

The Sparkles cheer team, a partnership between Pleasant Valley High School cheerleaders and Davenport's Hand-in-Hand, are being recognized for gathering to give back.

In November, a story submission from Sarah Herr of Bettendorf was named one of five national finalists in Modern Woodmen of America s Gatherings with Purpose giveaway.

The story received the most votes in the online contest, earning more than 4,600 votes over the two-week voting period.

Hand-in-Hand and the Sparkles will each receive $2,500 as contest winners. The presentation will take place during the Sparkles cheer practice. Members of the media are encouraged to attend.

When: Monday, Dec. 21, 5:45 p.m.

Where: Pleasant Valley High School cafeteria

Herr shared the story of a wonderful, and perhaps unlikely, partnership between a high school cheerleading squad and Hand-in-Hand, a non-profit organization providing critical services for families with special needs. The Pleasant Valley High School cheerleaders decided to create a high school-based cheerleading squad specifically designed to include students with special needs. To find potential participants, the squad volunteered to gather and cheer at Hand-in-Hand's annual Family Fun Walk fundraiser. The group dressed in uniform and spent the morning managing the games and painting designs on eager little faces. During the walk, the girls cheered on the participants with Hand in Hand, yes we can!

Through this gathering, the cheerleaders met several young girls and their families who enthusiastically supported the idea of starting a new cheer squad to include students with disabilities. Within two weeks, 10 girls with disabilities from Down Syndrome to autism signed on to be the first Spartan Sparkles! Since this time, the Sparkles have cheered through two football seasons and one basketball season in front of packed crowds and standing ovations. To express gratitude to Hand-in-Hand and more tangibly support its programs, the cheerleaders again gathered on a Saturday afternoon over the summer collecting donations for Hand-in-Hand. The group raised both awareness and $2,000 in donations for Hand-in-Hand. Two weeks later when they attended the next Family Fun Walk, the Sparkles had much to cheer about!

Nearly 100 stories were entered in the online contest and five finalists were chosen. The stories spotlighted families and friends who volunteered together to meet a community need, raise money for a local cause or add a volunteer activity to a social gathering.

Modern Woodmen members nationwide gather for good through local camps (chapters) and youth service clubs. The giveaway was launched to complement national efforts to bring people together to help others and meet needs in their local communities. Modern Woodmen sells financial products not to benefit stockholders, but to support its stakeholders members, their families and their communities. How? Through social, charitable and volunteer events where members gather.

Founded in 1883, Modern Woodmen of America touches lives and secures futures. The fraternal benefit society offers financial services and fraternal member benefits to individuals and families throughout the United States.

GatheringswithPurpose.com giveaway will award $5,000 to a lucky volunteer and his or her cause!

Doing good for others just became even more rewarding. As many Americans face a holiday season of hardship in a struggling economy, Modern Woodmen of America is looking for those who have given the gift of time.

Families and friends who have volunteered together to meet a community need, raised money for a local cause or added a volunteer activity to a social gathering are eligible to win a grand prize totaling $5,000. Through Modern Woodmen's Gatherings with Purpose Giveaway, one winner will receive a grand prize of $2,500 in cash, plus a $2,500 donation for the worthy cause described in a submitted story.

Stories can be submitted online at GatheringswithPurpose.com by 11:59 p.m. CST on Nov. 12, 2009. Submissions should be 400 words or less and describe who gathered, who was helped and how it touched lives.

Five finalists will be chosen from submissions entered online. Finalists' stories will be posted, and the public will vote online for a favorite beginning Nov. 19. The Gathering with Purpose earning the most votes will win the grand prize - $2,500 for the entrant and $2,500 for the purpose described.

Visit GatheringswithPurpose.com for complete rules and details.

As a membership-based organization, Modern Woodmen launched the giveaway to complement national efforts to bring people together to help others and their communities. Modern Woodmen sells financial products not to benefit stockholders, but to support our stakeholders - our members, their families and their communities. How? Through social, charitable and volunteer events where our members gather.

Founded in 1883, Modern Woodmen of America touches lives and secures futures. The fraternal benefit society offers financial services and fraternal member benefits to individuals and families throughout the United States.

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