The mission of Suited to Succeed is to empower Baltimore area women in their efforts to transition from training programs and unemployment to self-sufficiency by providing free professional clothing and workshops.

Nearly 24,000 adults in Baltimore City receive public assistance. The majority of these recipients are female single heads of households. Welfare legislation requires that many of these women enroll in job training programs and actively seek employment in order to continue their assistance during this period. As women make the transition from dependence to self-sufficiency, the road they must travel is often bumpy. With the support of a quality job-readiness and/or training program, our clients gain the life management and technical skills needed to enter the competitive world of interviewing and securing employment.

Having the right skills and experience are critical factors in the employment process, but they are not the only ones that contribute to a woman’s success. Appearance plays a major role in helping women boost self-esteem and confidence at a time when it is critical to their success. Within 30 seconds of meeting, most people have already formed opinions that can impact an applicant’s success. A professional image that is appropriate to the industry and position are essential factors to securing a desired position and keeping it. STS is committed to helping women move successfully along this path.

Suited to Succeed (STS) was founded in June 1997 by a group of Baltimore men and women committed to the empowerment of women with a specific focus on facilitating economic independence. The founders recognized that a critical gap existed between completion of the more than 200 job training programs in Baltimore and obtaining employment. Suited to Succeed was created to provide an opportunity for disadvantaged women entering or re-entering the workforce to not only ‘dress for success’ with suitable business attire but also to enhance the skills necessary to gain and maintain employment over time.

Suited began as a grassroots initiative with seed money donated by the founding board members and Procter & Gamble. With a skeleton staff and committed volunteers, relationships with potential Referral Partners were cultivated and the process of collecting and providing business attire to women as they completed vocational training programs began.

In September 1998, NationsBank (now Bank of America) donated 3,000 square feet to STS in their flagship building on the corner of Light and Redwood Streets in downtown Baltimore. Former Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend helped dedicate the new facility in November 1998. In June 2002, STS opened a satellite location in Harford County in an effort to meet the expanding need.

Over the past twelve years, STS has served more than 9,000 women. The average number of women receiving clothing has grown from 15 clients per month to more than 100 per month and we couldn’t have come so far without the generosity of the Baltimore communities, corporations and organizations that support us.

Suited to Succeed (STS) collects business clothing through company-sponsored clothing drives, individual donations and community events and offers them to women transitioning from welfare, crises and/or training programs to employment. Business attire is requested. However, collected clothing that is not appropriate for interviews is either donated to other local charities or sold at our Tuesday clothing sales.

STS works closely with several job-training programs throughout the greater Baltimore region, known as our Referral Partners, which refer the women from their programs to STS when they are ready to begin the interview process. During the first appointment at STS, a client is assisted in selecting three business outfits, which can include a suit, blouse, shoes, and other accessories. When she secures a position, she is invited back to select three to five additional outfits with the goal of creating a business wardrobe.

Since its start, Suited to Succeed has provided business clothing to more than 9,000 Maryland women!

In addition to clothing, STS provides related workshops that support the job training provided to clients by our Referral Partners. Topics have included: Your Professional Image, Time Management, Self Esteem, Success in the First 90 Days of Your New Job and Business Etiquette, as well as FDIC written and approved Money Smart Modules. Since beginning these workshops in September 2000, STS has offered training to over 550 Maryland women!

The Suited to Succeed Board Of Directors and Staff is compiled of some of America's top professionals.  Our board consists of Presidents and CEO's as well as a variety of industry professionals with expertise in areas like finance, healthcare, media, banking community advocacy and more.

To contact a Suited to Succeed Board Member or Staff Member, e-mail info@suitedtosucceed.org and note the Member’s name in the subject line.

Site Location:
10 Light street
Baltimore, Maryland 21203
(entrance on Redwood between Charles and Light Streets)

Mailing Address:
Suited to Succeed
P.O. Box 23873
Baltimore, Maryland 21203-5873

Phone: 410-528-1799 Fax: 410-528-1915
Email: info@suitedtosucceed.org