The Walmart Foundation Provides Dress for Success® With $500,000 Grant to Support Women in Retail With Post Employment Programming

NEW YORK, Jan. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Walmart Foundation announces a $500,000 grant for Dress for Success Worldwide to support the Retail Jobs Trajectory (RJT) program in twenty affiliates over the next year. The grant is part of Walmart and the Walmart Foundation's Retail Opportunity Initiative, a five-year, $100 million sector-wide effort launched in 2015 to facilitate advancement of frontline workers in retail.

With twenty years of post-employment program experience, Dress for Success is launching the RJT program to address advancement challenges faced by female workers in retail. Through the program, participants will gain a network of female industry role models, a structured workplace leadership curriculum, and a digital platform providing access to retail employment opportunities and online learning.

The RJT program seeks to improve participants' self-confidence and self-determination, fostering their development as emerging leaders in retail. Specific aims are to increase job satisfaction, align personal and professional philosophies with the mission of retailers, and provide upward mobility strategies to pave participants' progression in their retail careers. The program integrates training through the National Retail Federation's RISE UP program.

"The Walmart Foundation is proud to support Dress for Success in its efforts to help women build strong career pathways, particularly in retail. Dress for Success' model combines individual skill development with supportive peer cohorts to inspire women to achieve their potential," said Julie Gehrki, Vice President of the Walmart Foundation.

Through this initiative, Dress for Success broadens the scope, reach and impact of its programming by integrating retail-specific elements to help employed entry level retail women advance. "Leadership skill building in tandem with a retail focus positions our women to move up the career ladder, arming them with the skills and confidence to pursue the next promotion," said Joi Gordon, CEO of Dress for Success Worldwide. "We are thrilled to have the support of the Walmart Foundation."

About Dress for Success^®

Dress for Success is an international not-for-profit organization that promotes the economic independence of women by providing professional attire, a network of support and career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.

SOURCE Dress for Success Worldwide

Related Links

http://www.dressforsuccess.org