annual report - Bottomless Closet

BOTTOMLESS
CLOSET
connecting
women and
work
2015
ANNUAL REPORT
INSPIRATION FOR GROWTH
Bottomless Closet envisions a time when all women overcome poverty and achieve
self-sufficiency for themselves and their families.
Bottomless Closet’s mission is to be the connection that inspires
and guides disadvantaged New York City women
to enter the workforce and achieve success.
Bottomless Closet creates a professional yet inviting
environment for everyone who walks through our doors.
Our culture of inclusion and one-on-one support informs
everything we do. So many women in New York City lack
the resources to provide for their families and we, all of us at
Bottomless Closet — staff, board and volunteers alike — can’t
see our city succeeding without helping these women.
“I had a tremendous experience and
know that as a result, my chances of
landing the job [I want] are increased
exponentially. I am eternally grateful.”
-Bottomless Closet Client
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
At the beginning of 2015, Bottomless Closet was honored as the only nonprofit
in New York to receive the 2015 SmartCEO Future 50 Award. The award is
presented to a company that shows great vision for the future. Bottomless Closet
has always been forward thinking — asking how we can be better and do better,
while maintaining the core principles that we were built on: offering a one-on-one
connection with volunteers, enhancing business presence and interview skills,
and providing on-going professional and financial education. This exciting news
supports our commitment to reach twice as many New York City women by 2020.
In May, we celebrated extraordinary mothers and grandmothers at our Annual
Spring Luncheon. Guests were invited to bring their families and it was a pleasure to
see the crowd touched by Bottomless Closet, especially our incredibly committed
Christine Chang, Board Chair
volunteers. Volunteers like Nancy, who soon after she started volunteering, brought
her daughter-in-law and her granddaughter into the fold — three generations so
generously giving their time and expertise.
Clients feed off that inspiration as well — leaving Bottomless Closet renewed, optimistic and inspired to continue their job
search and be successful. Clients like Caroline, who when her daughter was looking for an internship, immediately thought
of Bottomless Closet. Read more about Caroline’s and Nancy’s stories in the following pages.
In June, our move to 16 East 52nd Street signaled our biggest growth milestone yet. This location elevates us to a new level
of professionalism and sets us up to reach many more women. If you have not seen our new space, I encourage you to visit
soon!
Finally, just over a month ago, Melissa Norden, a nonprofit veteran joined us as Executive Director. Melissa’s goal is to galvanize
our community to continue to support and help nurture Bottomless Closet, so that more local women can take advantage
of our impactful programs and services, enhancing their opportunities for employment. I am sure that Melissa will make a
meaningful difference in our operations and with our clients. As Board Chair, I am invigorated by our accomplishments, as
well as the prospects for the future of Bottomless Closet, yet I am also confident that the principles and values that we were
built upon are still infused in everything that we do.
Christine, Board Chair
I am incredibly honored and deeply humbled to be Bottomless Closet’s new
Executive Director.
Melissa Norden, Executive Director
From day one, I was inspired by the supportive staff, board and dedicated cadre
of volunteers who help make Bottomless Closet such a special place. I have
championed many causes, working and volunteering in the non-profit community.
Being selected to lead Bottomless Closet is particularly meaningful to me because
I have been so fortunate in my life and career. I want to pay my blessings forward
to those who simply need a helping hand, interview attire, a self-esteem boost,
some insider tips and a friendly smile. My goal is to inspire the entire Bottomless Closet community to build on the
foundation that has been developed over the past 16 years, while planting
roots for a sustainable future. I can’t wait to put my talents to work, so that
more women in New York City can achieve self-sufficiency, become
confident and get the jobs they want to make their dreams into
realities for themselves and their families.
Melissa, Executive Director
When our client Caroline S.’s daughter
Cheyenne was looking for an internship,
Caroline suggested Bottomless Closet.
Little did she know that Cheyenne
would continue volunteering even after
she completed her necessary hours.
Photograph: Steven Vargo
Women Helping Women:
Grandmothers, Mothers
and their Daughters
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
Almost everyone agrees Bottomless Closet is far more
than “just about the clothes.” There’s a little bit of magic
going on that is pretty special. Founded upon a solid
mission and core values, Bottomless Closet provides a safe
and inspirational place for women to grow and develop.
Whether clients or volunteers, practically everyone who
comes to Bottomless Closet walks away changed by the
experience in positive ways. And when something inspiring
and magical happens… you tell your friends and family. This
is organic growth at its best!
Thank you to Jeannette Simpson for taking the
time to conduct the following interviews. Jeannette
is a new volunteer who was also immediately
hooked and is, like all of our volunteers, committed
to helping Bottomless Closet grow.
Caroline S. came to Bottomless Closet as a client but now
calls it her “family.” She recently introduced her daughter,
Cheyenne, to the organization. Caroline was trained as a
counselor, which shows in her insights into the emotional
journey of a Bottomless Closet client.
How did you get involved with Bottomless Closet?
I was having some stress-related issues at work. My friend
said, “I know a place where a lot of this is discussed. Why
don’t you come with me for a workshop?”
In the summer, it will be five years. In that time, I’ve worked
full time, been looking for work, and worked part time. And
I still stay connected to Bottomless Closet.
It’s a way for me to own my own future. Bottomless Closet
keeps me looking forward to the future and staying positive.
Why did you suggest your daughter become an intern at
Bottomless Closet?
Cheyenne had just turned 14, and we were talking about
jobs. I thought how great it would be if I could place her in
an environment where people actually love their work and
they treat the people who come through the door with a
level of respect. So I could imagine that she would get no
less.
I’m basically entrusting my daughter to an organization and
saying, “Do with her as you will.” But my primary reason
was that I felt it would send a great message to her that
work doesn’t have to be tedious and grueling, where you
just watch the clock.
Caroline talks about what makes Bottomless Closet such a
unique and special organization.
Some of those clients have literally been through hell. I
worked in a homeless shelter for three years. I remember
how clients used to come in.
It’s very cutthroat for the clients sometimes. And when
you get that type of reception at the Bottomless Closet
front desk — when you’re treated with such kindness and
consideration and grace and compassion, like someone’s
listening to you, not cutting you off, not rushing you — it
speaks volumes in terms of what you can take away. In that
moment, you have some kind of reassessing that goes on
and maybe things don’t seem as bad as they were before
you came in, even though I don’t think it’s very conscious.
It says a lot about an organization that you can have
someone who’s been through hell, who has, perhaps, some
bitterness, come in through your doors and leave with a
pep in their step.
Do you think they get this kind of treatment and respect
elsewhere in their lives?
Not at all. A lot of them come in… broken a little bit. And
when you’re broken, you tend to have a chip on your
shoulder to try to cover that, like a defense. And you’re
very hard, you know? Because you don’t want to let anyone
know that you’re scared. I think Bottomless Closet has a
way of getting through without taking them on. It’s not a
fight. It’s not a struggle. It’s just care. And they come back; they call; they write cards. And they
speak with other people. They say, “Do you know about
Bottomless Closet?” So it’s like a community that keeps on
giving.
Why do they come back?
They come back because the world can be hard. The world
can be cruel. And sometimes they don’t really know how
to navigate that world. So how great to come to a place
where someone can give you something without making
you feel needy.
Cheyenne began an internship with Bottomless Closet last
year. She has maturity and grace beyond her years, but
makes you smile when bubbly youthfulness slips through.
Cheyenne talks about first starting her internship at
Bottomless Closet.
I didn’t really like it at first. I was doing a lot of
tedious work. I was telling my mom, “I don’t
know if I want to do this. Is this what
people do in offices?” And my mom told
me to stick with it for a little bit longer,
that it would get better. >>
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
After a while, I noticed that the difficulty of what I was
doing kept increasing until I was doing stuff that I noticed
was exclusively me doing it on my own. So, I really started
to like it. Just knowing that I was a big part of a process
and that by me going, I was helping. It made me feel much
more grown up. I went from filing to doing computer
database stuff that I realized they didn’t trust many other
people to do.
You felt needed and appreciated.
Yeah. That’s why I wanted to keep going. Because, well, if
I stop going, who is this work going to be turned over to?
Bottomless Closet is, essentially, a place where I’m treated
on a whole other level. I was given a whole lot more
responsibility, and it made me gain more confidence in
myself.
Does Bottomless Closet feel personal for you or more like
business?
At first, it felt more like business but, ultimately, I think that
none of us realized how close we would become to the
people there. My mom has made some lasting connections
and lasting friends there. It’s not business anymore, it’s like
a personal connection.
Nancy Black, Mira Graetz-Ball, and Ariel Ball all volunteer
for Bottomless Closet. They represent three generations
of women in one family, with mutual trust, respect, shared
passions, and closeness.
When did you first get involved with Bottomless Closet?
Nancy: A few years ago, I got involved because I retired
from the retail business after 60 years. I was going crazy.
I was not at all a happy camper because now I had all
these days to fill. I was having a really, really bad time and
somebody told me about Bottomless Closet. So I signed up
to volunteer and that was the beginning.
Every May, we have a big luncheon. I invited my daughterin-law, Mira, who retired in 2013, to be my guest one year.
She likes helping people and she’s good at resume building
and… I didn’t even know where I was going with it. But, right
away, Mira liked it and I introduced her to a couple of
people. I will admit, I picked key people to ensure
Mira would be hooked!
[Immediate laughter from all three women]
Ariel (Mira’s daughter, Nancy’s granddaughter): She’s strategic! We’re all
business people!
What kind of volunteering are you doing?
Nancy: I work with the clients as they come in. We dress
them, coach them with their resume, and walk them
through how to interview. And this can be overwhelming.
You have to get them to have faith in themselves, really.
That’s the major thing.
Nancy, Mira, and Ariel talk about the collaborative work
style and shared goals of Bottomless Closet volunteers.
Mira (also works with clients): There’s no backstabbing.
What’s wonderful is that if I’m looking for a jacket and I
have no idea where to start, somebody will see that look of
terror on my face and ask, “Can I help you? Let me go in the
back and see if we have one in that size.”
Nancy: I’ve never worked at a place that had such amazing
people — there’s no competition.
Mira: Everybody wants to be there. The volunteers all get
that it’s not about them. And the clients… nine times out
of 10, people walk out of there, and we’re all hugging and
kissing, saying “Good luck. You can do it. You got this!”
So the clients walk in and, maybe it’s a female thing too,
we’re all very respectful of our clients. We don’t ask them,
“Where are you in life? What bad thing has happened?” We
don’t care about that. All we care about is making them
look fabulous.
Ariel: And feel fabulous!
Ariel connected with Bottomless Closet as an employee
of CBRE, a real estate firm with a women’s network that
holds fundraising events for Bottomless Closet. Asked to
spearhead Bottomless Closet events, Ariel has inspired coworkers to become more involved and even take a day to
go into Bottomless Closet to volunteer with clients.
Ariel: It’s what we like to do — it’s interviewing, it’s business,
it’s resumes. And we have a great group of women at CBRE
who are great with mentoring. So you go into work every
day pretty happy and you want to give it back to somebody
else. And that’s exactly what Bottomless Closet allows us
to do.
Ariel is clearly just as passionate about working with
Bottomless Closet as her mother and grandmother are.
All five of these women share an impressive generosity of
spirit, drive, and optimism. They believe that helping other
women is important, and Bottomless Closet is where they
choose to do it.
•
Photograph: Steven Vargo
Three generations of Bottomless
Closet volunteers. (From right to
left) Mira, Nancy and Ariel.
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
Partnerships At Work
Corporate partners impact Bottomless Closet in many
ways including providing grants, engaging volunteer
groups, sponsoring events, and in 2015, assisting with our
move to 16 East 52nd Street. Gensler, a global architecture,
design, and planning firm, donated services to help us
design our new space – an effort spearheaded by board
member Kathleen Jordan, an award-winning principal at
the firm. Annemarie Fleming of MovePlan, an international
move management and relocation consultancy, facilitated
our move pro-bono.
Fully transitioned to 16 East 52nd Street by early June, we
found creative ways to optimize working in our new, albeit
smaller but more inspirational space. Board member
Diane Kenney successfully applied for The Container
Store’s nonprofit grant which allowed Bottomless Closet
to work with The Container Store’s designers to create a
boutique and inventory room that are both functional and
beautiful. Local Container Store employees quickly brought the
designers’ vision to life. In a matter of hours they installed
their signature elfa shelving and built stationary racks.
The employees were so knowledgeable and friendly —
their rapport was truly infectious. The Container Store’s
employee centered motto: “What if everyone associated
with a business could thrive?” was present in their
camaraderie and dedication to the project. With the
installation finished, and with the addition of new light
bulbs, we now have an impressive boutique.
The end result amazed not just the staff, but our volunteers
who work in the boutique day in and day out. “It really
looks like a boutique!” are words we hear every day from
clients and visitors alike. Clients now feel like they are
shopping in a chic boutique, ultimately, ensuring that they
receive the best standard of service — all thanks due in
part to The Container Store and all the corporations that
partner with Bottomless Closet.
The Container Store employees celebrate a
successful installation with our staff.
Visit bottomlessclosetnyc.org/donate/corporate-giving to learn
more about establishing your corporation as a corporate partner.
2015 Growing Partnerships
INCREASED OUTREACH
YIELDED A HIGHER LEVEL
OF ENGAGEMENT FROM
CORPORATE PARTNERS IN
COMPARISON TO 2014.>>
49
VOLUNTEER
GROUP SHADOW/
INVENTORY DAYS
MULTIPLE CORPORATE GROUPS HAVE
REGULARLY SCHEDULED GROUP
VOLUNTEER DAYS INCLUDING:
775
CORPORATE
VOLUNTEER HOURS
DONATED
16
CAREER DAYS
UP FROM 3 IN 2014
WE LOVE OUR INTERNS!
THANK YOU TO OUR
PARTNERS WHO CONTINUE
TO PROVIDE QUALIFIED AND
MOTIVATED INTERNS!
41
CLOTHING
DRIVES
12
SPECIAL
EVENTS
THE 2015 CLIENT
GRADUATION WAS HELD AT
WELLS FARGO WITH 120+
CLIENTS, VOLUNTEERS,
AND SUPPORTERS
IN ATTENDANCE.
WIX CONNECTED
THROUGH
LINKEDIN AND SET
UP A CLOTHING DRIVE/EVENING
ENTREPRENEURIAL ROUND
TABLE DISCUSSION. VOLUNTEERS
AND CLIENTS ATTENDED.
CLIENTS WERE
INVITED TO
SPEAK AT
MULTIPLE
EVENTS
INCLUDING:
EMERGING
LEADERS EVENTS
WERE HELD IN
CONJUNCTION
WITH:
(26.5%+ OVER 2014)
MADISON STRATEGIES GROUP: 124
FEDCAP: 174
HENRY STREET SETTLEMENTS: 149
2,907
NEW YORK CITY
WOMEN SERVED
SINCE 1999
QUEENS: 14%
OTHER: 1%
BROOKLYN: 28%
MANHATTAN: 29%
BRONX: 27%
PERCENT BY
LOCATION:
STATEN ISLAND: 1%
30,000+
WOMEN SERVED
IN 2015
GRANT ASSOCIATES: 236
AMERICA WORKS: 293
TOP 5 REFERRAL SOURCES
REFERRAL
ORGANIZATIONS
102
ARE SINGLE MOTHERS
48% OF CLIENTS
ARE MOTHERS
57% OF CLIENTS
(32% increase)
EVENING
631
(14% increase)
DAYTIME
8,759
VOLUNTEER
HOURS
2015 Impact & Growth
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(A VOLUNTEER HOUR IN
NEW YORK IS VALUED AT $26.86)
SAVED IN VOLUNTEER HOURS
$343,109+
AFRICAN AMERICAN:
58.89%
HISPANIC: 26.52%
CAUCASIAN: 5.69%
ASIAN: 2.4%
OTHER: 6.5%
CLIENT
PERCENT
BY RACE:
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2015 Income & Expenses
$1,672,385
30%
16%
ANNUAL INCOME
4%
Annual Spring Luncheon
Individual and Board Gifts
Foundations and
Corporations
50%
Other Income
$1,789,788
ANNUAL EXPENSES
Programming Expenses
Fundraising Expenses
Administrative Expenses
10%
14%
76%
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
2015 Volunteers
Bottomless Closet makes every effort to provide an accurate list of active volunteers; we apologize for any inaccuracies.
Samantha Abzug
Susan Ach
Elesia Acosta
Willate Agyemang
Iffy Akwule
Lynda Amari
Ellen Archer
Lynne Ault
Christine Awe
Portia Badham
Rebecca Barker
Meghan Bartley
Melissa Basu Gordon
Maya Battle
Jessica Beam
Beverly Beckley
Bette Behrens
Meryl Benaim
Laura Bernstein
Arlene Bessenoff
Kelsey Bilodeau
Nancy Black
Anne Blackman
Lola Bodansky
Nirvitt Bonarji
Lynne Borah
Lauren Brailey
Roberta Brenner
Jane Brody
Nikky Brown
Edna Burak
Caroline Burke
Danielle Caby
Robin Caldwell
Darlene Campbell
Bonnie Cantor
Providencia Cenci
Tara Chan
Maggie Chandler
Elisa Charbonnel
NeecollChou
Judy Chung
Anne Cifu
Dottie Clutton
Gina Cola
Talia Concepcion
Rory Conforte
Elizabeth Cook
Harriet Cook
Inelle Cooper
Lauren Cramb
Kyra D’Onofrio
Taania Dar
Doreen Davidowitz
Karlien De Mot
Stacey Delikat
Barbara DeMarco
Graziella Deschineau
Roberta Dougherty
Danielle Dowrich
Judith Dresner
Michelle Duron
Carole Durso
Marcia East
Patricia Emanuele
Jennifer Eng
Jennifer Eskin
Jaclyn Feffer
Lynda Feld
Lani Feldman
Nancy Fink
Christine Fischer
Elizabeth Fleming
Nancy Flores
Amanda Ford
Kim Frappolli
Danielle Frappolli
Erica Frederick
Lee Freund
Rachel Gannon
Andrea Gary
Christine Gaze
Emily Gell
Mike Giasi
Virginia Gibbs
Marsha Gilbert
Adrienne Gordon
Mira Graetz-Ball
Susan Grayburn
Susan Graziano
Joan Greenspan
Brenda Griebert
Diane Grimes
Chandni Gurnani
Susan Haberman
Rory Hayden
Claire Healy
Linda Heckman
Maxine Henry
Caroline Hines
Judith Hunt
Shira Hyman
Sandra Janus
Emily Jones
Jody Kahn
Kaone Kario
Barbara Katz
Pam Kaufman
Rebecca Kavanagh
Barbara Kelly
Diane Kenney
Bette Kessler
Lorraine Kessler
Iris Klein
Merryl Klein
Rebeccah Kohn
Olivia Kolb
Elayne Korowitz
Janice Kosta
Judy Kozuck
Sheila Lambert
Linda Larkin
Elizabeth Lasdon
Alisa Layne
Judith Leal
MaggieLear
Kayla Lebovits
Linda Lee
Alison Levy
Toni Liebman
Theresa Lin
Scott Lopez
Dee Dee Maguehi
Eileen Mahoney
Robert Mai
Maria Makis
Lisa Maldonado
David Malkin
Susan Mandell
Kia Manlove
MargotManson
Nina Marks
Sarita Martinez
Jenna McCormick
Nancy McDonald
Christina Melagrano
Susan Miller
Wendy Mitzner
Gayle Monaster
Deborah Morgan
Janee Morris
Karen Morrow
Sabrina Moscola
Susan Neumann
Heather Nielsen
Brigitte Nioche
Jennifer Nuila
Beverly Osemwenkhae
HyeJun Park
Grace Park
Julie Pearlstein
La’Verne Perry-Kennedy
Tami Peter
Isabelle Pinzler
Sandra Plascencia
Jodi Platt
Robyn Polansky
Diane Pollack
Sasha Porter
Carolyn Preiss
Ashley Purcell
Alice Ann Redpath
Ellen Refowitz
Lorie Reischer
Hope Roberts
Luz Rodriguez
Joan Rose
Dana Rosenberg
Lisa Rothman
Jane Rothstein
Martine Rousseau
Jessica Rubin
Dominique Saint-Fort
Suzanne Salomon
Andrea Sandals
Mary Ann Schade
Sandra Schneiderman
Margie Schneidman
Diane Schoenthal
Hannah Scholl
Carol Schulweis
Neha Shah
Jane Shea
Amanda Short
Renata Singer
Catasha Singleton
Rebecca Sisselman
Katherine Skelley
Diane Slaine-Siegel
Darlene Smith-Daniels
Hannah Solomon
Barbara Sorkin
Lisa Spivack
Kaila Starr
Peggy Stinchfield
Nada Stirratt
Paula Stoler
Irmane Suarez
Cheryl Surana
Vivien Tannen
Sheila Tannenbaum
Janet Thomas
JoAnn Tolosa
Pamela Tolton
Luz Torres
Donna Tosko
Betsy Tucker
Amrita Uttamchandani
Morena Vattouone
Vanessa Voigt
Kimberly Walcott
Derek Warburton
Eileen Warner
Terri Wasserman
Katherine Watkin
Roberta Weiner
Deborah Weiner
Janice Weisler
Phyllis Werner
Izailea Whaley
Elaine White
Phyllis White
Debbie Wilcox
Jennifer Wintrich
Andrea Wobensmith
Judy Woodfin
LaShell Wooten
Jasmine Wright
Reva Wurtzburger
Leslie Yoo
Leslie Zivic
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
2015 Donors
Bottomless Closet makes every effort to provide an accurate list of donors; we apologize for any inaccuracies.
$50,000 +
The Heineman Foundation
Sheila and Bill Lambert
Playmates Toys
Angela Thompson
Wells Fargo
Limited Brands Foundation
Daily and Phineas Lambert
Laura and Richard Parson
Lauren and Brian Schiller
Jerome Siegel
Denise and Thomas Stern
Paul Taubman
$35,000 - $49,999
$5,000 - $9,999
Arlyn and Edward Gardner
Stavros S. Niarchos Foundation
Reva and Jon Wurtzburger
Acxiom Corporation
Alliance of Career Development Nonprofits
Paul Barkus/Bessemer Trust
Alan Belzer and Susan Martin
$20,000 - $34,999
Valerie Brown
Timothy & Michelle Barakett Foundation Michele and Martin Cohen
Laura Conigliaro
BNY Mellon
Camilla Dietz Bergeron and Gus Davis
Louise Braver
Andrea and Dan Hoinacki
Centerview Partners
Judith and Walter Hunt
The City of New York
Pam Kaufman and Scott Drath
Robert and Tracey Pruzan
Robert Kleinberg
Sara and Joshua Slocum
Betty and Leah Kleman
Viacom
Linda D. Lee
The Women’s Bond Club of NY
Diane Moss
Martha Nelson
$15,000 - $19,999
Perri Peltz and Eric Ruttenberg
Margie and Richard Schneidman
Alcoa Foundation
Carol Schulweis
Con Edison
Shapiro Silverberg Foundation
Dreamworks Animation
Paul Singer
Fisher-Price
Societe Generale
US Bank
Spin Master Ltd.
The Guardian Life Insurance Chandler Tagliabue
Company of America
TJX Companies
Judy Hong
Marc Utay
Diane and Bill Kenney
Brigitte Weeks
Macy’s/Bloomingdale’s
Abigail and Leslie Wexner
US Bank
Judy Zankel
The Robert W. Wilson Charitable Trust
$10,000 - $14,999
$2,500 - $4,999
Iris and Richard Abrons
American Greetings Corporation
Anonymous
Lisa Bernstein
Blackstone
Andrew and Marcie Braver
Christine Chang and Eric Withrow
Edward Conard and Jill Davis
Carol Joseph/Amy Klette Newman Foundation
Jody and John Arnhold
Priscilla Bijur
Rory Conforte
Corcoran Group Cares
Niamh Curry
Orrin and Deborah Devinsky
Themis Dimon
Lynn G. Feld
Nancy and Leonard Fink
Patrice and Louis Friedman
Jennifer Garrett
Edythe Gladstein
Daniel Green
Shelly Lazarus
Abby Leigh
Elliott and Deborah Levy
The Mandell Family Foundation, Inc.
Caroline and Eugene Mercy
People StyleWatch
Tami Peter
Carol Roaman
Elizabeth Scheuer and Peter Joseph
Nancy Solomon
Katherine and Heath Watkin
Yeah! Management BC
Brian and Anne Young
$1,000 - $2,499
Cherylyn and Chris Ahrens
Susan Appel
Ellen L. Archer
Linda Bergen
Myra Biblowit
Anne Blackman
Susan Braden and Thomas Susman
Susan and Jonathan Bram
Roberta and Michael Brenner
Diane and Clyde Brownstone
Bonnie Cantor
Jonathan Capehart
Alexander and Susan Casdin
John and Marianne Castle
Barbara and Bertram Cohn
Betsy and Alan Cohn
Caroline Davis
Jennie and Richard Descherer
Roberta Dougherty and Sanford Teller
Virginia and George Elvin
Judy Evnin
Erica and Martin Frederick
Marilyn Friedman and
Thomas Bloch
Linda and Alexander Gardner
Stephanie and Nick Gardner
Sherri Geldin
Lisa Genova
Gensler
Chris Gifford
Giving Circles Fund
Beverly Glaubman
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
Goldman Sachs Gives
Patricia and Bernard Goldstein
Ilene Gordon
Adrienne Gordon
Ruth Gottesman
June Gottlieb
Jessica Graham
Kristy and Robert Harteveldt
Karen and Stephen Hillenburg
Anthony and Lyn Hoyt
Carolyn Huggins
Cathy and Mark Iger
IM Designs, LLC
Leslie Jerome
Barbara Jonas
Iris and Edward Klein
Julie and Jeremy Koster
Linda Larkin
Charla Lawhon
Judith Leal
Francine Levine
Diane Lippert
Carolyn and Ian MacKenzie
Joanne and Norman Matthews
Elizabeth and Kevin McGill
Neal and Graciela Meltzer
Virginia Millhiser
Susan Monk and Edward Henry
Moody’s Foundation
Nancy and Morris Offit
Jane Overman
Joseph and Amy Perella
Christine Pishko
Ronnie Planalp
Courtney Potts
Lynn Povich and Stephen Shepard
Arleen and Aaron Priest
Research Foundation of The City University of New York
Jose Rivera
Sheli and Burton Rosenberg
Patricia and E. John Rosenwald
Judith and Robert Rubin
Allison and Neil Rubler
Reba Judith Sandler Foundation
Doris Saranga
Joan Sarnoff
Laura Scheuer
Andrea and David Schmitz
Joyce and Charles Shenk
Renata Singer
Roslyn Sonabend
Marcy Syms
Judy and Warren Tenney
Paul Tsigrikes
Kenneth Tuchman
Joy Ubina
Marcia Warner
Jeff Weingarten and Belinda Broido
Diane Wohl
Women in Flavor & Fragrance Commerce, Inc.
Joseph and Sheila Yurcik
Jane and Ron Zimmerman
$500 - $999
Susan Ach
Anonymous
Meryl Benaim
Vivian and Daniel Bernstein
Michelle Blistein
Nivritt Bonarji
Bridgewater Advisors Inc.
Karen Bromley
Edna Burak
Judith and Russ Carson
Regina Collins
Joseph Conforti and
Douglas Jakubowski
Betty Cotton
CREW New York
Geri Cuiule
Isabella del Frate Rayburn
Marie Devlin
Johanna Diaz
Stephanie Diaz Eldredge
Catherine Dimon
Jill Evans
Julie and Erik Falk
Thomas Fox
Susan and Peter Friedman
Christina Gantcher
Jacqueline Garrett
Judith Garson and Steven Rappaport
Barbara Georgescu
Virginia and Thomas Gibbs
Ann Goodbody
Jackie and Barry Gosin
Cassandra Greene
Jessica Halprin and Mitchell Bernstein
Rory Hayden
Karen Hersch
Patricia Holzman
Pamela Howard
Jones, Little & Co. CPA’s, LLP
Barbara Katz
Rachelle Kaufman
Martha Kellner
Anthony Kendall
Laura and Anthony Klarman
John Kuehn
Don Kurz
Rosemarie and Jeffrey Lieberman
Jean Lindenbaum
Susan Magovern
Lindsay Mann
Barbara and J. Robert Mann
Lorraine Mann
James Marcus
Nina Marks
Emily Meschter
Susan and Lewis Miller
Nicole Miller
Cheryl and Michael Minikes
Nancy Missett
Barbara Munves
Susan Muscott-Drucker
Beth and Joshua Nash
Laurie Newman
Susan and Peter Nitze
Terry Nowak
NY State Women in Communications & Energy
Joan Picket
Robyn Polansky
Preview Textile Group LLC
Joan and Richard Raines
Liz Rees
Tracy Reese
Charlotte Rosenblatt
Peter and Cynthia Rosenwald
Susan and Jon Rotenstreich
Lizzie Russell
Carol Saper
Elizabeth Sapery and Rosita Sarnoff
Saumil Shukla
Natalie Silverstein
Mary Ann and Arthur Siskind
Barbara Smith
Paula Steinberg
Peggy Stinchfield
Paula Stoler
Burston Stone
Vivien and Richard Tannen
Charlie and Esther Tebele
Erica and Jonathan Teller
Janet and Robert Thomas
Andrea Thompson
Elizabeth Tighe
Barbara and Donald Tober
Jennifer and Stephen Warner
Priscilla Warner
Phyllis and Fred Werner
Richard Werner
Joan Winograd
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
Michele Wolkoff
Wyndham Worldwide
Jennifer Zabinski and Patrick McKee
Diane Zultowsky
$250 - $499
Pamela and Richard Ader
Ally Financial Inc.
Barbara Appel
Lynne Ault
Margaret and Jay Axelrod
Nancy Bachrach
Margery Baker-Riker
Inez Baron
Soma and William Behr
Jennifer Bergin
Linda and William Berliner
Lori Bernstein
Arlene and Steve Bessenoff
Alexandra Birnbaum
Nancy Black
Judith and Bob Block
Karen Bloom and Ira Orenstein
Lola Bodansky
Lynne and Frederic Borah
Gail Brandli
Annemarie Bray
Barbara and David Caplan
Elizabeth Carter
Sharon Casdin
Jennifer and Barry Chaiken
Anne Cifu
Mary Anne Cizmar
Dottie Clutton
Elinor Cohen
Elizabeth Cohen
Sharon Cohen
Joan and Peter Cohn
Elizabeth Coleman-Chen
Gail Collins
Judith Conrad
Harriet Cook
Marina Couloucoundis
Frances Coyne
Jeff Cutler
Jennifer Daniels
Janet Davis
Nancy Erardi
Elena Ezratty
Marian Faytell Friedman
Janie Fisher
Helen and Henry Freedman
Lee Freund
Cynthia Gaston
Christine Gaze
Barbara and Ethan Ellenberg
Jane Goldman
Zelda Goldsmith
Marianne and John Golieb
Claire Graham
Elyse Greenfield
Joan Greenspan
Ilka Gregory
Irene Griffin
Sushma Gupta
Mimi Halpern
Gail Hammer
Cathy Heller
Caroline Hines
Margot and Stephen Holland
Joan Huggins-Banbury
Sylvia Hyman
Danielle Johnson
Susan and Jeffrey Kane
Jane Kaplan
Jo Kay and Alan Kay
Elaine Kessel
Claire Klausen
Mara Klein
Susan Klein
Janice and John Kosta
Eve Landau
Beatrice and Peter Leeds
Steffanie and Geoffrey Levin
Robert and Gina Levine
Stephanie Levy
Jenny Lewis
Lisa Licht
Donna Lieberman and William Stampur
Dana Linden
Rachel Lobovsky
Patricia Machir
Diane Maglaris
Lisa Marks
Sandra Marrow
Jean Mastrandrea
Nancy Matthews
Lisa McCarthy
Bettie McCarthy-Kraut
Pamela Miles
Sondra Miller and Stanley Gelfman
Phyllis and A. Slade Mills
Susie Mordoh
Sue Morris
Susan and Gerard Neumann
Nina McLemore, Inc.
David and Loretta Nugent
Theresa O’Neill
Judith Parnes
Kathleen Peri
Evelyn Peter
Sharon Pincus
Helen Pomeroy
Rachel Posner
Sylvia and David Posner
Nancy and Charles Posternak
Carolyn Preiss
Lorie Reischer
Bruce Reznick and Laura Bernstein
Ronnette Riley
Barrie Ringelheim
Patricia and John Roache
Cintra and Franklyn Rodgers
Janie and Joseph Roher
Joan Rose
Serpil and William Rosenfeld
Nancy Rosner
Lisa Rothman
Jane Roundell
Amy and Robert Rubenstein
Ronna Rudolph
Ellen Schecter and James Altman
Janet Schinderman
Sandra Schneiderman
Michelle Schweibel
Marcie Setlow
Amy Shachat
Jill Sharfstein
Jane Shea
Linda and David Sicher
Erica Simone
Diane Slaine
The Solomon Page Group LLC
Eve Starkman
Gail Steinberg
Susan and Jeffrey Stern
Andrea Stone-Forbes
Aviva and Marvin Sussman
Debra Teramo
Harry Traulsen
Matthew Traulsen
Shari Wayne
Lisa Weingeroff
Janice and Nat Weisler
Joan Wiesen and David Lieberman
Eleanor Willets
Frances Wolff
Judy Woodfin
Claire Yaffa
Leslie Yoo
Bottomless Closet is governed by a
dedicated board of directors with
backgrounds in Human Resources,
Finance, Fashion, Management,
etc. Thank you all for your
continued support and guidance.
Chair
Board of Directors
Christine Chang
Anne Blackman
Senior Vice President
Katherine Davisson
Arlyn S. Gardner
Rebekah Dopp
Treasurer
Carolyn Huggins *
Judy Hong
Kathleen Jordan
Secretary
Pam Kaufman
Judith T. Hunt
Diane Kenney
Chair Emeritae
Robyn Polansky
Sheila Lambert *
Saumil Shukla
Reva Wurtzburger *
Sara T. Slocum
Naz Vahid
Emeritae
Katherine Elvin Watkin
Cynthia Gaston *
Eleanor Willets
Jeanne Sigler *
Elizabeth Tighe *
* Founder
To read the board and staff bios visit bottomlessclosetnyc.org
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
Thank you to our very dedicated staff
Executive Director
Melissa Norden (2016 - )
Kendall Farrell (2008 - 2016)
Operations Director
Gineyda Diaz
Program Director
Patrycja Warda
Director of Volunteerism & Partnerships
Stacey McFadin
Office Coordinator
Valentine Louis
Program Coordinators
Emily Carter
Paola Hill
Lakiesha Johnson
Volunteer Coordinator
Cheryl Harper
all
r
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“The work done here is
amazing. The friendliness
of the staff is unmatched.
Everyone here is very
welcoming, warm and helpful. I
wish I knew about Bottomless
Closet sooner. I’m sure I’d
already have a position doing
something I love by now.”
Back Cover, Before and
Afters +
“It’s
easy
feel
emb to
Volunteers
abou
arra
s
I wa t needin sed
s
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dign treated help.
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Bottomless Closet • 16 East 52nd Street, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10022 • p. 212-563-2499 • f. 646-355-0176
www.bottomlessclosetnyc.org