Jackets for Jobs hosted its first annual, free, two-day Homecoming Dress Boutique for metro Detroit students Saturday, Sept. 14, and Sunday, Sept. 15, in partnership with Comerica Bank, which helped over 350 local teens from six different counties.
The first annual Jackets for Jobs Homecoming Boutique took place in the lower level of the Samaritan Center, located at 5555 Conner St. in Detroit, and featured more than 1,500 new and gently used dresses.
The two-day dress fall giveaway extended Jackets for Jobs and Comerica’s prom dress initiative that took place earlier this year.
In all, approximately 700 dresses were distributed over the weekend with teens offered the option to select two dresses for upcoming school events and dances.
“With heartfelt thanks to our dedicated colleagues, valued customers and supportive communities, we are grateful to provide another opportunity for local high school students to experience one of the most special moments in their teen years,” said Steve Davis, Comerica Bank Michigan Market President. “We received such an overwhelming number of donated dresses during our Prom Dress Drive in the spring that we able to support another dress giveaway boutique for the Homecoming season.”
The pop-up Homecoming boutique offered dresses of various styles and sizes sourced from Comerica Bank’s sixth annual Prom Dress Drive, which benefitted Jackets for Jobs—a Detroit-based nonprofit that focuses on career development by providing high-quality clothing that makes clients look and feel professional to support workplace success.
“Our Prom Dress boutiques the past two years have allowed many local students the opportunity to attend their special dances without barriers to cost and access to the attire that helps makes those moments so valuable,” said Alison Vaughn, Jackets for Jobs Founder and CEO. “We have witnessed some incredible moments of joy, relief and excitement. With the community’s generosity, we are proud to collaborate with Comerica Bank again to reach even more teens as they return to school and start planning for their Homecoming events.
Local teens were assisted by Comerica Cares volunteers who helped as personal shoppers. 2024 Miss Michigan for America Strong Bailey Staff and Ms. Royalty International Latrice Delgado-Macon greeted the boutique guests on Saturday.
During this year’s Comerica Prom Dress Drive, the bank collected over 2,600 dresses, bringing the donation total to more than 10,000 dresses since the initiative first launched in 2017. In the two-year partnership supporting Jackets For Jobs, Comerica’s Prom Dress Drive has collected approximately 4,900 dresses to the organization for its events provided free access to dresses and accessories.
At the Jackets for Jobs Prom Dress Boutique in April, approximately 530 dresses were distributed to students representing approximately 50 different schools in the Metro Detroit area.
Between the Homecoming and Prom Dress Boutiques, approximately 1200 dresses have been distributed to high school students this year, in addition to accessories that included shoes, jewelry and purses.
Due to the large volume of donations received, approximately 100 dresses and dress suits were designated through the sorting process to directly support Jackets For Jobs daily workforce development initiative to provide professional clothing and essential attire for job seekers.
The dresses will also be made available to an upcoming military ball and a social services organization serving women.
In 2023, Comerica Bank first partnered with Jackets for Jobs for its fifth annual Prom Dress Drive, collecting dresses and accessories from metro Detroit communities and donating them to the nonprofit. The organizations used the donations to host a prom dress boutique to benefit local teens who otherwise may not be able to afford formal attire and experience the high school tradition of prom.
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