“Looking Good and Feeling Good” was the idea behind the BNP Paribas Women’s Business Networking Group’s latest event held on July 22, 2010 in New York City. Employees donated new or up-to-date and lightly-worn business attire, including interview-ready suits, blouses, and new or unworn shoes to benefit Dress for Success, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the economic independence of disadvantaged women.

Founded in New York City in 1997, Dress for Success offers services designed to help women find jobs and remain employed. Each Dress for Success client receives one suit when she has a job interview and can return for a second suit or separates when she finds work.

Since 1997, Dress for Success has served more than 550,000 women around the world, helping more than 50,000 women annually across the United States, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, the Netherlands, Mexico, Poland and the West Indies.

To meet the need for services that would help women both find and keep jobs, the organization also established the Professional Women’s Group (PWG) program, which offers women ongoing support as they successfully transition into the workforce, build thriving careers and prosper in the mainstream workplace. Once a woman joins the PWG she is a member for life, able to attend meetings at any affiliate throughout the world, and can benefit from additional employment retention and mentoring programs.

Dress for Success also has developed Career Center, an initiative that promotes confidence and professionalism by providing women career guidance, the chance to acquire technology skills and assistance in their job searches.