Massive response to Flair appeal

We have made it. After three weeks, The Gleaner's Lifestyle Editor Barbara Ellington has passed her target for Flair's Christmas appeal on behalf of the less fortunate women in Jamaica. The appeal was made in support of Dress for Success Jamaica, an organisation of women founded by Charmaine Lewis.

This week, we are happy to report that the response has been overwhelming, and we are still counting. So, we use this opportunity to say a big thanks to the following persons and organisations:

1. The membership of the American Women's Group who have included us in their newsletter mailing list.

2. Misha Haye, Flair's Bachelorette 2010, who has asked the female staff of the entire National Commercial Bank network to donate at least one suit each. She has so far received 38 suits.

3. Ann-Marie Vaz, wife of Information Minister Daryl Vaz, who has so far collected nine suits and two pairs of pants from her friends.

4. Marcia Erskine and the members of Women's Leadership Initiative who have donated:

• 28 work suits
• 2 cocktail suits
• 3 cocktail dresses
• 1 cocktail pants
• 2 cocktail skirts
• 22 tops/blouses
• 7 work skirts
• 4 work pants

5. Event promoter and public relations practitioner Keith Brown, who has offered Morgan's Harbour Hotel and Marina for a Dress For Success fund-raiser. In making the offer, Brown said, "I think it is a great thing you ladies are doing, and we are more than willing to assist the cause."

6. Veronica Stokes has been using her boutique, Adrienne, as a drop-off point and has so far received eight outfits from her clients and friends. Her store is located at Windsor Avenue, off Fairway Avenue.

7. Anonymous donor: 10 outfits

8. Pamela Phillips, Roberta Matthies, and Marguerite Morgan from the law firm, Phillips, Malcolm, Morgan & Matthies: 8 suits and 13 separates

Angela's Boutique on Merrick Avenue is another drop-off point for persons willing to make donations to Flair's 100 SUIT DRIVE FOR CHRISTMAS, and we asked proprietor Angela Neita why she volunteered her store for the cause. "Last year, we were a collection centre and we are back on this year, because of what it represents. Women going out to work for the first time want to make a good first impression, because you never get a second chance at making a first impression.

"Any help a woman can give another woman is a very good thing," she said.