Dress for Success Miami proudly announces its 2010 annual benefit gala, hosted by fashion journalist and celebrity presenter Louise Roe, and presented by co-chairs Amaris Jones, Rosie 
Gordon-Wallace, Simi Diskin, Saddy Delgado and fiancée of Miami Heat’s Chris Bosh, Adrienne Williams. The “Dress to Impress III Gala” will feature an elegant evening of fashion, live and silent auctions, entertainment, and gourmet cuisine. All proceeds will support Dress for Success Miami’s tireless mission to promote economic independence to disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, career and development tools, and an expansive support network to allow women to thrive both professionally and personally. ”I am excited to be part of an organization that promotes economic independence for disadvantaged women. Women are the heart of the community and it’s a passion of mine to see that we continue to support, uplift and encourage these women,” says event co-chair Adrienne Williams.
The Gala will be held at Miami’s EPIC Hotel, 270 Biscayne Blvd. Way on Saturday, October 23, 2010. A Moet cocktail reception and silent auction will begin at 7pm, and the main event will start at 8pm.
Dress for Success Miami will honor the philanthropic efforts of Ken Downing, Senior Vice President and Fashion Director, Neiman Marcus Stores, who has generously supported Dress for Success over the years. Ken Downing has supported the Dress for Success mission for over 5 years, through cause marketing campaigns and in-store events throughout the nation where Neiman Marcus stores are located. First introduced to the organization over five years ago, Mr. Downing’s efforts have had a substantial impact on the organization. Mr. Downing is the Fashion Director—and definitive tastemaker—for The Neiman Marcus Group. A bastion of style, he oversees all women’s and men’s fashion and style trends for Neiman Marcus Group Services, directing the company’s 200 merchants on each season’s most fashionable trends, and provides creative direction to its marketing and advertising teams.
“With our honoree, Ken Downing and presenting sponsors Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd and Comcast, they are giving Dress for Success Miami an incredible awareness and fundraising opportunity with our Dress to Impress event. We believe the message that everyone has the right to attain economic self-sufficiency will resonate powerfully in our community and encourage others to give back,” said Sonia Jacobson, Executive Director Dress for Success Miami. “We are humbled and honored by the generosity and passion of these wonderful companies and philanthropic leaders.”
Miami’s own celebrity DJ, DJ Irie, will provide the evening’s entertainment. The benefit will be highlighted by live and silent auctions featuring the opportunity to bid on VIP, all-inclusive trips to the 2011 Grammys, the 2011 ESPYS, as well as a chance to attend a live taping of the television sensation, Dancing With the Stars. Additional auction items include a $5000 Neiman Marcus shopping spree and a Royal Caribbean Cruise.
The evening’s host, Louise Roe, fronts the CW’s hit new makeover show, Plain Jane, and is the newest cast member of MTV’s The City. A regular face on E! Entertainment’s red carpets and Fashion Police, Roe is quickly becoming a household name as a fashion TV presenter, and recently performed makeovers as a guest on Chelsea Lately. As a fashion journalist, Ms. Roe has written for the likes of Elle, Vogue.com, In Style, Glamour and Cosmopolitan magazine.
Dress to Impress III’s Co-Chairs include notable Miami personalities Amaris Jones, Founder and CEO of Elite Home and Lifestyle Management; Rosie Gordon Wallace, Founder and Director of the not-for-profit Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator; Simi Diskin, philanthropist; Saddy Delgado, Founder of Avatar Luxury Real Estate Company; and Adrienne Williams, fiancée of Miami Heat player, Chris Bosh. This year’s event would not be possible without generous support from Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd., Comcast, Diageo, Baptist Health South Florida, Ciroc and Neiman Marcus Stores.
Since 1994, Dress for Success has assisted over 30,000 women to re-enter the workforce, providing them with professional attire, employment training and skills. Dress for Success Miami is dedicated to empowering a community of people to share their knowledge, experience and passion to support disadvantaged women in South Florida who struggle to attain economic self-sufficiency. This evening’s event will raise much needed funds to support these deserving individuals, and, through them, the community at large.
To learn more about Dress to Impress III, or how you can support Dress for Success Miami, please visit www.dressforsuccess.org/miami; Facebook at www.facebook.com/dressforsuccessmiami or contact miami@dressforsuccess.org
