Media

Fact Sheet

Mission
Positively impact the lives of children and families in need by providing brand new clothes

DUW was founded in April 2000 by philanthropist and Holocaust survivor Henri Landwirth.  “I know what it means not to have clothes – to be stripped of dignity and to give up all hope,” says Henri.  Dignity U Wear was founded to create real change in the lives of children and adults in need; change that restores hope and self-esteem.  Change you can see. That is why we distribute only brand new clothes.

IMPACT

• Brand new clothing is distributed through a network of over 300 non-profit social service agencies in communities nationwide.
• Nationally

• 4.1 million pieces of brand new clothing
• valued at $71 million
• has reached over 350,000 children and families in need

• Northeast Florida
• 1.5 million pieces of brand new clothing
• valued at $25.9 million
• has reached 126,000 children and families in need

BRAND NEW CLOTHING

• Donations, from 1-piece to 100-pallets, are provided by manufacturers, retailers, businesses, individuals and community groups year-round.
• We accept donations of brand new:

• shoes, socks, shirts, pants/shorts, underwear, outerwear and more
• infant, children and adult men & women sizes
• cold-weather and warm weather apparel

• Undie Sunday Undie Monday - March 9 & 10, 2008!
• The annual drive by business, school, faith and community groups from around the country to collect brand new children’s underwear!
• USUM 2008, a 6-week campaign, kicks-off February 1, 2008!
• Over 155,000 pairs of undies have been collected in two campaigns!

VOLUNTEERS

• Volunteers assist in sorting, boxing and shipping clothes by size and gender. This work addresses specific clothing needs - restoring self-esteem and dignity by providing individuals in need with clean, new clothing that fits.
• In 2007, volunteers donated nearly 27,000 hours of their time.

• Volunteer groups include local and national student groups, civic and faith based organizations (e.g. Jacksonville’s Habitat for Humanity homeowners completing “sweat equity” hours), as well as business team-building events.