WORKING WARDROBES: From left, Yolanda Hernandez-Obillo, Jerri Rosen, Gus Castellanos and Beverly Ham at the fund-raiser. Photo: STARR BUCK, THE REGISTER

Suiting up for job success

Tuesday, November 23, 2004

DONNA BUNCE
Register columnist
PEOPLE WATCH
dbunce@ocregister.com

"We consider Jerri and her staff 'Weapons of Mass Construction,'" Channel 3 TV's General Manager Gus Castellanos said at Working Wardrobes' fund-raising luncheon Saturday at the Westin South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa.

Jerri Rosen, founder and executive director of Working Wardrobes, began the nonprofit 14 years ago to help men, women and teens in crisis enter the workforce by offering clothing, personal grooming and job readiness workshops.

The "Celebration of Success" luncheon drew 270 guests to hear eight men and women who have overcome enormous challenges. The "Faces of Success" included Yolanda Hernandez-Obillo, a victim of domestic violence, who today is a Tarbell Realtor and a junior in business administration at Cal State Fullerton. "When I attended Working Wardrobes' 'Day of Self-Esteem,' I felt like I had hope for a better future," Obillo said. "That event changed my life."

Others with equally moving stories included Athena Bondoc, Ernie Morones, Claudia Leone, Dickye Mares, Kerri Robinson, Michelle Orabuena, and Victoria Calderon.

Castellanos and his cohorts Marie Moran and Jeff Davis from the Garden Grove cable television station were recognized as the charity's Outstanding Community Partner 2004, and Irvine-based BDS Marketing owners Mark Dean and Beverly Ham were honored as Outstanding Corporate Partner 2004. Ham is Working Wardrobes' board chair.

Rosen said 3,000 adults had been assisted the past year and announced a new outreach program in professional wardrobing for cancer survivors in 2005. Of her 14-year journey, Rosen said, "I feel like the richest woman on the planet because I'm able to do my heart's work and see that our volunteers, donors and clients are better for having been involved." Over $80,000 was netted for the cause, which was chaired by Ivana Sifuentes, who invited Universal recording artist Alih Jey to entertain with songs from her new CD.