Become a Sponsor for the Black Pants Project

The Black Pants Project is growing! In order to fill the need, we have decided to expand...and in order to expand we need your help! In addition to our location in Monessen, we hope to establish branches throughout the Mon Valley and SWPA. We are currently recruiting churches, nonprofit organizations, and the interested community organizations to become affiliate "Style Partners" for the program.
Each of our partners will receive at least one clothing rack with an attached sponsor sign as well as a starter wardrobe and Gabriel Brother's gift card to help get them started...all free of charge. 

Here are some pictures so you can see how your logo will be displayed.   Purchase one side of the sign for $50 or both sides for $100.  These racks are on wheels, so your logo will be visible to the public.  In addition, we will feature you on this blog as one of our community champions! If you are interested in receiving more information, please contact Jennifer Melnick Carota at 412-559-1754.  We would love to work with you!

Prayer Request

The Black Pants Project is blessed to have many committed volunteers to our cause. One such volunteer and previous client needs all of our prayers right now. To protect her privacy I will not reveal her name here, but those of you close to the program know how much she contributes to the every day operations of the BPP and Schooner Youth Center. The truth is, the BPP could not exist without her. And now she is in a battle for her life. Please hold her up in prayer as she fights against a barbaric disease that is sure to lose against this amazing woman. May the Lord grant her and her family strength, peace, and stamina during this difficult time. We love you and can't wait to have you back with the program~ Amen.

Business is Good!

Where does the time go? I can't believe it's been so long since I've updated our page! But no news is good news, right? Well actually is great news! Just to give a few updates and thank yous that we would like to share with you all:

• Our first bag sale was a huge success. We raised over $600 for the BPP and Dress for Success. We hope to make this an annual event...stay tuned!
• Thank you to the Caring Mission who chose the BPP as their signature charity for a marketing event at the Meadows in October. The Ladies Night Out basket raffle raised nearly $300 for the BPP!
• Thank you to the ladies of the Upper Saint Claire Westminster Presbyterian Church who invited me to raid their ladies boutique during their annual rummage sale. Armed with a flat-bed dolly and three personal shopping assistants, the BPP and Dress for Success made out like bandits. We can't thank you enough!
• Thank you to our new volunteers Harry, Marsha, Mary, Gina, Jennifer and Bob (from Model Cleaners) who came out today to help us clean out for the upcoming renovation of the BPP Room. Soon we will be side by side with Dress for Success, increasing our square footage to over 1,600 feet. Oh yes...we've got great plans!
• Special event plans are in the works for a fabulous fundraiser in May. Stay tuned for those details coming soon!

As always, thank you to all of the anonymous donors who have donated clothing via our partners at Model Cleaners. If you have a business suit, sweater set, or neutral pants that you would like to donate, please visit Model Cleaners in Belle Vernon, Charleroi, Upper St. Clair, and Greensburg. They will clean and deliver your donation to us free of charge. (AMAZING!!!) Special accommodations for drop-offs at other locations are possible as well. Please contact me for more details!

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season filled with love, blessings and abundant giving! If we can help you help a woman in need, we are only one phone call away!

Welcome Dress for Success!

I am both ecstatic and humbled to let all of you know that the Black Pants Project and Dress for Success will be joining forces at the Schooner Youth Center! Beginning on or around July 1st, Dress for Success will set up shop alongside of the Black Pants Project, bridging the gap for women who require a professional wardrobe, regardless of their point of entry. Two programs co-existing for the greater good of struggling women in the Mon Valley! This is fabulous! Thank you Robin and Wendy for making this happen in Monessen! Imagine how many women we can serve...the opportunities are endless! Exactly one year since our opening, the Board of Director's of the Schooner Youth Center formally approved the partnership...I don't think that was a coincidence, do you? Amazing things are in store for our community so be sure and stay tuned!

Thank You Model Cleaners

A sincere and heartfelt thank you to Dan and Bob who have faithfully stood by the Black Pants Project and inspire us to do MORE because of their generosity and committment to our cause. There is NO WAY we could do this without the Lacarte and entire Model Cleaners family. Here's a sneak peak of how they go above and beyond for us here at the SYC. They picked up and delivered 25 industrial clothing racks for us after they traveled to Century III Mall to pick them up...all on less than two days notice! Please patronize these fine folks. Their committment to our community is priceless! To find a location near you or schedule a free pick up and deliver, please visit their website at http://www.modelcleaners.com/. God Bless all of you, and Susan...you rock!!! Click the picture caption to see a short video of the morning!

Thank You Model Cleaners

Please Donate to Our Cause

Dear Friends,

As you are all aware, the tough economy is affecting many families across our region. Now more than ever, women in our communities are looking to step back into the workforce to earn additional income in order to support their families and avoid financial disaster. The Black Pants Project, unlike similar career wardrobe programs, exists to serve these women who need a hand up during their job search. In order to help prevent these women from incurring additional debt and spending valuable dollars on clothing, the Black Pants Project can step in and help these women maximize their family budget by providing career related wardrobe essentials free of charge. As we are a volunteer organization, we need your help. In preparation for the influx of new clients, we are actively seeking monetary donations that will allow us to maintain our operations throughout 2009.

Won’t you consider becoming a supporter of the Black Pants Project for the upcoming year? This year alone since our opening last September, we have served over 55 women who have successfully completed their job search and are gainfully employed. We would love to quadruple that number in the upcoming year! For as little as $25, you can make a difference in the lives of many and girls throughout the Mid-Mon Valley. No donation is considered too small! Please choose your level of sponsorship and return your tax deductible donation to my attention made payable to the Schooner Youth Center at the address provided above.

_____ $100 Founding Partner

_____ $50 Wardrobe Sponsor

_____ $25 Friendship Sponsor

_____ Other Amount

When Bill Sings, God Listens

I am humbled and blessed to report that national recording artist Bill Deasy will be our featured musical guest at our "Magical Dessert Luncheon and Shopping Spree" to be held in November 30th from 1-4pm at the Willow Room in Rostraver, Pa. Maybe you remember his national hit "Lost in America" with the Gathering Field or "Good Things are Happening" as the theme song from Good Morning America. You can also hear Bill on KDKA performing his song "Your Home" during commercial breaks and Penguin games with Joe Grushecky!...Or perhaps you will become a new fan! Here's a little teaser of what you can expect...




Buy your tickets now at www.theblackpantsproject.eventbrite.com
Hope to see you there!

Bring Your Gold!

I just got word today that we have been chosen as a fundraising benefiary from one very special lady who will be participating at the Women and Families Expo next weekend. Melissa McGavick, a licensed gold broker, will be buying gold from attendees who visit the booth of Pittsburgh Professional Women on Saturday and Sunday. Melissa will be donating a portion of her profits to both PPW and the Black Pants Project! So come on out the expo and bring your gold with you! Melissa's buying prices are much higher than most because she is an independent broker and does not have the overhead costs that most jewelry stores have, meaning she can give you more money for your gold!

Don't forget...the Gift Therapist is speaking at 12:30 on Saturday and 2pm on Sunday. Come on out and play "The Price isn't Right, " register to win one of twenty gift bags that will be given out hourly at my booth (114), and get some early holiday shopping done! Hope to see you there!

The Friendship Stone

The Black Pants Project is thrilled to announce a new partnership with a very unique and inspiring organization called My Stone Company. They have created a new and fabulous gift that reinforces friendship, connection and compassion with the people that we care about the most. The Friendship Stone is a small and vibrant tiger eye stone that can be carried in your pocket or purse as a constant reminder of the loving person who gave it to you. What a perfect symbol to reinforce our ongoing committment to the ladies that we serve! Jill and Cathy Raff, the ladies behind this brilliant project, have generously offered to donate one Friendship Stone to each client we serve through our program! How amazing, humbling, and fantastic is this? Here is how they describe the Friendship Stone:

The friendship stone represents the bond of friendship. The ability of the Tigers Eye to change appearances with the rays of light is an important message for how one chooses to view life and friendship. The stone is as beautiful and irreplaceable as the people that comprise one’s life. It’s small enough to be carried triggering the importance of each individual in our life. Giving The Friendship Stone provides an everlasting keepsake; a reminder of the enduring connection between those two individuals.

The Friendship Stone is a unique give-back gift: 10% of profits are donated to help the communities in South Africa where the stone originates. Please visit them online to get your Friendship Stone today!

http://www.thefriendshipstone.com/

New addition to the Black Pants Project!

First of all I would love to introduce myself, my name is Brenna. I came here with an organization called Greaterworks International and get the opportunity to help out with different organizations in the area. When I first heard about the Black Pants Project I instantly knew it was something that I wanted to help out with. I get the opportunity to help Jen out from organizing the clothes that are in the Black Pants Project room and the new clothes that come in from Model Cleaners. I also get the opportunity to meet some of the ladies that come in and help them find something that works for them! I hope that I will be able to help out Jennifer with this awesome vision that she has!

Kate and Lexie

I can't put into words how grateful I feel after a private appointment with new friends! Today we dressed a lovely young lady today in a fabulous designer business suit and three other complete outfits for her return to the workforce. Of course we celebrated at the end with soda and chocolate :) This is a FUN and INSPIRING program. I promise I won't quit until the clothing runs out and all my lady friends have an appropriate working wardrobe. Guess I'm gonna be here for awhile!

Drop Off Locations Confirmed! Hooray for Model Cleaners!

I just received "official" confirmation from my friend Dan at Model Cleaners that effective July 21st, 2008 the following Model Cleaners stores will be ready to accept, clean, and deliver donations to the Schooner Youth Center for the Black Pants Project:

• Charleroi


• Rostraver


• Upper St. Clair and


• Greensburg

Now there's some incentive to go and clean out your closet! Look for our posters in the window...you can't miss them! Model Cleaners has made donating your gently worn career-wear easy and convenient...so get to work :) Why not drop off some of your own dry cleaning as well? This is a wonderful company and they deserve our support as well! Go on...kill two birds with one stone and feel great about it! Pay the kindness forward wherever you can! Need directions? Click their logo for store locations and directions! Happy closet cleaning!

The Net is Still Expanding

Here is a brief but passionate update on all the wonderful things that have happened over the holiday weekend that are a true sign that the Lord really wants this project to take flight. Remember, we are located in a small town that very few people recognize outside of the Pittsburgh City limits, and even those folks are not really sure that we exist only 30 miles away :)

• Two national sponsors have come forward to provide goodie-bag items for our fundraiser in November, not to mention all of the products that I've received to review on my Gift Therapist Blog. BIG companies and PR firms are sending a lot of great samples because they know that ultimately they will be given to a great cause in gift-baskets at the fundraiser as well. I think I'm going to have to rent a storage unit for all of this stuff :)
• Camera Bartolotta, a former LA actress who now calls the Mon Valley her home is excited to become involved in the Black Pants Project. She is a certified image coach and has worked with working wardrobe organizations all over the country. She admitted that she has been looking for a local program like this to get involved with but couldn't find one...until God brought us together last week.
• And now for the biggie...Princeton University's Department of Social Sciences has contacted me in order to include the Schooner Youth Center and the Black Pants Project in a comprehensive study that analyzes how social service programs are delivered in pockets of high poverty. Best part...they are coming here to tour our facility on July 21st. I told you we were going to put the Mid-Mon Valley on the map.

Those are the biggies, but I can't overlook the everyday miracles that I receive in the form of volunteer inquiries, encouraging words and kindness from strangers. These are the gems that give me sustenance and courage to keep moving forward in faith. Praise the Lord!

A Sister's Love

Yesterday I had the honor of working with two fabulous women who traveled over 35 miles to participate in the Black Pants Project. A young lady saw our commercial on Comcast Newsmakers and referred her sister who had recently fallen on tough times and was looking to start a new life. During our two hours together we laughed, cried, and left as lifelong friends. That's what makes this program so special. Although you would think that the career-wear is central to the program, I'm beginning to realize that it is just an added perk to the program. The real magic happens when you sit and talk with the clients one on one. Hear their stories...listen to their dreams...and become part of their very intimate lives. What a gift! This program is certainly not typical of most social service programs. It fills the gaps that most nonprofits are unable to provide. It's truly more of a mentoring ministry of sorts. We invite women to come together and build up the courage to take that giant leap into a new life. No income guidelines...no red-tape. The only requirement is that they "Pay it Forward". And they will. I have absolutely no doubt about it. Yesterday showed me the power of a sister's love and what really matters. Love is central to this program. And you can't buy that in a department store...

Putting the Mid-Mon Valley on the Map!

You know you have a great thing going when local, regional, and national sponsors begin to take notice of your program and begin to donate items from all around the country (and world for that matter) in order to support your cause. Just this week, I firmed up our partnership with Model Cleaners (thank you John and Dan!) who will be a drop-off site for donations as well as provide us with free dry-cleaning services...YAY. We are going to start with four stores: Rostraver, Charleroi, Greensburg and Upper St. Clair. Not too shabby. My good friend Ed at Staples is working with us to provide free printing for the gigantic posters that will be hung in those first four stores, then ahead to their other 10 regional stores. Can I hear an Amen? While promoting our fundraiser for November 29th, I worked some cyber-marketing magic and now have over 100 product samples from all over the US that will be used as door-prizes and/or basket raffle items. A very kind gentleman from Kona Earth, HAWAII has been kind enough to donate his homegrown Kona Coffee and be our "coffee sponsor" for the event...unbelieveable. Please visit Farmer Gary at www.KonaEarth.com and pick up a few bags of wonderful farm-raised coffee. Tell him the Gift Therapist sent ya!Anyone out there want to donate some gourmet desserts or goodie-bag items? Thanks to all of you for your support, prayers, and championship of our new program. More to come as the miracles keep rolling in!

All the way from West Africa!

Earlier this week I received a box of lovely suits from a generous lady that I met on wishuponahero.com. This website connects people or programs in need with everyday hero's who may be willing to grant their wish. I, of course, wished for clothing for the Black Pants Project and received a response from Theresa who said she would happily send several items when she came into town and then mail them. Little did I know that she packed up her donation, lugged it to the airport, flew out of Africa, landed in Pittsburgh, then mailed her donation to our program. What an amazing story! Or Trish from North Carolina who read about the project online and called the newspaper to track me down and sent a ton of designer outfits and suits that have never been worn...UNBELIEVABLE! This program has been nothing short of amazing...the people, the donations, the community support, and the never ending possibilities...I'm dumbfounded. Every day there is a new development. Today I worked with two young girls and even made a house call. I love this project and can't wait to see what the future holds!

Model Cleaners on Board!

Just received the news today that Model Cleaners would like to help the Black Pants Project achieve our mission by providing dry-cleaning services as well as a few other extra perks that will be finalized early next week! Just thought I'd share my excitement for all of you who check this page regularly for updates. The donations are still flying in and we are looking forward to our first Advisory Board and Fundraising Committee meetings in the upcoming weeks. If you would like to be added to our mailing list or would like to volunteer, please contact me via my website at www.thegifttherapist.com.

God Bless!

Thank You Comcast!

Just spent a wonderful afternoon at the Comcast Studios in Greentree with Tonia Cauruso and Natalie Ricchuito filming an interview for the Black Pants Project. I even received a large donation from a friend and Comcast employee, Bud Leaper, too! Wow, this program is really creating a buzz for itself! Here are the details if you are able to watch:

Look for the Black Pants Project on Comcast Newsmakers during the June 2008. Comcast provides a free forum for non-profit leaders to present events and issues important to the Pittsburgh Region. Comcast Newsmakers can be seen at 25 and 55 minutes past the hour on CNN Headline News, on Comcast Cable. More than 650,00 households in the Pittsburgh region can the interview during the month of June and will air approximately 60 times.

I will post the interview as soon as I can get my video tape converted to digital! Thank you to everyone for your generous support!

Progress Report

Here are a few pictures of our program space!







It's amazing what a group of determined women can do when we put our minds to it! We still have clothing to sort and sizes to coordinate, so this is only the BEGINNING! Praise the Lord!

Our FIRST Client!

A woman in need can be defined in many terms. Perhaps she is unemployed, divorced, a single mom, chronically ill, or just having a rough time of it. I find it rather ironic and humbling to report that our first client is a PERFECT example of a strong woman doing great things, but in financial distress as our first client. I have known Ms. Millie for over four years. In that time we served on my non-profit boards and participated in many community events together. Diagnosed with a chronic illness at that time, Ms. Millie was unable to obtain full-time employment, purchase her own car, or maintain stable/suitable housing. Without sharing too much of her personal struggle, let me just say that her story in nothing short of miraculous. Today Ms. Millie heads a non-profit organization (an unpaid position at the time) that she built from the ground up, lives in her own home, and is a walking picture of health. She tells me her "faith" has gotten her through the worst of times and kept her looking toward the future. She never gave up and probably never will. When she told me that she would be attending a huge workshop in Pittsburgh at the end of the month, a light-bulb went off in my head..."I'm looking at our first client"...and we dressed her for success in a beautiful three piece business suit for the upcoming event. I have never seen anyone so grateful and blessed. Amen!

April 28th: We Made Front Page News

Good news about great programs really does spread fast! The Valley Independent featured "The Black Pants Project" front and center in today's issue. For the complete article, please click here.

The Black Pants Project Officially Launches on Earth Day 2008

In partnership with the Schooner Youth Center in Monessen, PA, I will be spearheading a new program called "The Black Pants Project" that will provide free wardrobe essentials to low-income women and girls who are looking to join the corporate workforce. I was inspired to launch this project after our youth center received a windfall of donated clothing from a consignment store that had just closed. While sorting through the donations, and they are BEAUTIFUL, I noticed one big shortage...BLACK PANTS! All of us bargain divas out there already know that a fabulous wardrobe can be centered around one or two pairs of basic black pants! Why black pants? Building your wardrobe with black pants will help you...

• Save money! No longer do women feel they have to buy fully coordinated outfits in a host of different colors. This reduces the urge to pull out that credit card and live beyond your means.
  
• Save time! Cut your morning routine time in half. Pledge to wear only black pants and you already have half your wardrobe planned for you in the morning!
• Save stress! Don't feel confident in your wardrobe choices? Black is a classic color that is seasonless and easy to match and accessorize. It's a safe starting point for any working wardrobe!
  

On a personal note, I am embarrassed to report that I was a victim of credit card debt due to the pressures of finding the perfect wardrobe. Because I didn't know or appreciate the basics I sunk myself financially before I turned 21. My goal is to help women avoid this same mistake and start out on the right foot. Will you help me?

How it all began...

Seven days ago I had no idea that I would be in charge of starting a new outreach program at the Schooner Youth Center! One two-minute phone call literally changed my life and hopefully many lives throughout the Mid-Mon Valley. Thanks to the generous donations from Rondell Curcio, our new working women's clothing ministry will be ready to serve hundreds of women and young girls who can not afford buy clothing for their next interview, new job or social event. This program can help give them a hand up and reduce barriers to employment while increasing self esteem and community connectedness.

You are looking at over 100 ladies dresses, suits, and career casuals that have been donated from Rondell's local consignment shop that decided to close it's doors today. When God closes a door, he certainly does open a window...and a big one at that! When the consigners found out that the clothing would go to a great cause, they offered them to us rather than pick them up and sell them elsewhere! One such customer, Mrs. Melanie Patterson, former Mrs. United States and the inventor of Pibbs (disposable bibs) told us to keep it all! AMEN! Life comes at ya fast, and this is how quickly one can be blessed when your heart is the right place!Keep your eyes and ears open for the grand opening! It's going to be a big one!

If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to support this program, please send your donation to: The Schooner Youth Center, Attn: Jennifer Melnick Carota, Executive Director, 701 Schoonmaker Avenue, Monessen, PA 15062.

PS...We also have a church van filled to the brim as well! This is just the tip of the iceberg!