Media
Contacts:
Erin
Moran, Dress for Success
646-233-4954,
erin@dressforsuccess.org
Jo Ann Tizzano,
AXA Equitable
212-314-2979,
joann.m.tizzano@axa-equitable.com
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AXA EQUITABLE AND DRESS FOR SUCCESS PARTNER TO SPONSOR
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Employees Nationwide To Participate in Volunteer Efforts
New York, NY – (April 8, 2010) –
Dress for Success Worldwide, an international not-for-profit
organization that promotes the economic independence of
disadvantaged women, announced today its partnership with AXA
Equitable Life Insurance Company to create the
Pursuit Beyond the Suit
scholarship program. The AXA Foundation, the philanthropic
arm of the company, will fund the scholarship, which was
created as part of “The AXA Equitable Connection:
Women, Wealth and
Wisdom,” a financial education and empowerment program for
women launched in September 2009.
AXA Equitable is also partnering with Dress for Success by
encouraging its employees to volunteer their time and talent
at Dress for Success affiliates in areas where the company has
offices. Efforts include: personal shopping, career
counseling, inventory sorting, administrative support and
event planning. The company will also conduct clothing and
accessory drives to supplement Dress for Success’ suiting
needs.
“AXA Equitable is a company that truly understands the mission
of Dress for Success,” said Joi Gordon, CEO of Dress for
Success Worldwide. “By offering scholarships they are allowing
deserving women the opportunity to realize their educational
dreams. We are fortunate that the entire company is willing to
support Dress for Success by volunteering their time and
talents to help our women achieve self-sufficiency.”
Understanding the importance of providing the necessary tools
to achieve self-sufficiency and wanting to make a direct
impact in its communities, the AXA Foundation worked with
Dress for Success to develop the
Pursuit Beyond the Suit
scholarship program, and will fund $20,000 worth of
scholarships. Dress for Success clients who complete the
organization’s Financial Literacy Program will be eligible for
the scholarship, which will provide funding to help them
achieve their education and life enrichment goals. Through the
AXA Foundation and its national philanthropic program, AXA
Achievementsm, AXA Equitable is one of the largest
corporate sponsors of college scholarships. The company views
the Pursuit Beyond the
Suit scholarship for Dress for Success clients as an
extension of its commitment to helping people reach their
goals.
"The AXA Equitable Connection strives to provide women with
the education, tools and resources they need to help them take
control of their finances and work toward a more financially
secure future," said Barbara Goodstein, executive vice
president and chief innovation officer for AXA Equitable. "We
partnered with Dress for Success and created the
Pursuit Beyond the Suit
scholarship, because we believe in the organization’s mission
and share its passion for women's financial education and
empowerment."
About Dress for Success
Dress for Success is an international not-for-profit
organization that promotes the economic independence of
disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a
network of support and the career development tools to help
women thrive in work and in life. Since starting operations in
1997, Dress for Success has expanded to more than 100 cities
in the U.S., Australia, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, New
Zealand, Poland, the UK and the West Indies. To date, Dress
for Success has helped more than 500,000 women work towards
self-sufficiency. Visit
www.dressforsuccess.org
to learn more.
About AXA Equitable and The AXA Foundation
In business since 1859, AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company
(NY, NY) is a leading financial protection company and one of
the nation’s premier providers of life insurance and annuity
products, as well as investment products and services through
its affiliates.
The AXA Foundation directs AXA Equitable’s philanthropic and
volunteer activities, working to improve the quality of life
in communities across the country where AXA has a presence.
Since 2003, the AXA Foundation has awarded more than $18.5
million in college scholarships through its multifaceted
flagship program, AXA Achievementsm, which provides
resources that help make college possible: access and
advice. More than 3,900 students, known as AXA Achievers,
have received scholarships.
AXA Equitable, a subsidiary of AXA Financial Inc., is part of
the global AXA Group, a worldwide leader in financial
protection strategies and wealth management. “AXA Group”
refers to AXA, a French holding company for an international
group of insurance and financial services companies together
with its direct and indirect consolidated subsidiaries. For
more information, visit
www.axa-equitable.com.
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