Middletown, Pa. – Members of the Global Women’s Leadership Network Pennsylvania Sister Society stepped into their communities to help women achieve success through volunteer efforts with Dress for Success and the Milagro House.

Two separate events for Dress for Success were held in Luzerne County and Uniontown, Pennsylvania, in May and June. Dress for Success is an international non-profit organization that helps women achieve professional and personal success through support networks and other resources. On May 7 and May 14, 2019, volunteers from Citymark Federal Credit Union, Cornerpost Federal Credit Union, NET Credit Union and Vizo Financial Corporate Credit Union conducted personal development mentoring sessions and assisted with resume building for Dress for Success clients.

On June 14, 2019, five volunteers from Frick Tri-County Federal Credit Union and PHEPLE Federal Credit Union participated in a mobile suiting event for Dress for Success at Union Station Clubhouse in Uniontown. The event helped women attain professional clothing and provided additional support and resources, such as mock interviews, as they prepared for upcoming interviews.

“Dress for Success has been a charity that the Sister Society has supported since our inception,” said Erin Doan, chair of the Pennsylvania Sister Society’s Community Committee and administration and community relations director for Vizo Financial. “This year, we’ve been able to be more hands-on with the organization’s clients and provide direct support to women who are looking to better their lives through education, employment and empowerment.”

The Pennsylvania Sister Society also spent two days helping out at the Milagro House in Lancaster, Pa. The Milagro House provides housing, as well as education and support services, for homeless women and their children so they can build a self-sufficient life. The first session was held on June 12, where volunteers mentored and talked about personal budgets as part of the organization’s new program for career and workforce development for women focused on completing their GED or planning for post-secondary education.

Volunteers at the second session on June 27 talked with Milagro House residents and students already participating in post-secondary education. They shared personal experiences and went over budget plans and scenarios to assist them with future financial planning.

“Working with residents of the Milagro House was a great opportunity for the PA Sister Society to help underprivileged women in our communities,” said Doan. “Our time with them was valuable because it not only gave them tangible tools they could use moving forward, but it was also an opportunity for us to connect with them as fellow women and let them know they have the support needed to reach their goals.”

The Pennsylvania Sister Society would like to thank everyone who participated in the Dress for Success and Milagro House volunteer days:

Nikki Baker, Bellco FCU

Lauren Beppler, NET CU

Ashlee Choman, Citymark FCU

Erin Doan, Vizo Financial

Erin Ensminger, PCUA

Kathleen Fey, PCUA

Carole Fischer, Cornerpost FCU

Lori Gall, Vizo Financial

Stacey Hankey, Lanco FCU

Kristi Harr, PHEPLE FCU

Stacy Hovan, Citymark FCU

Abby Kiebach, Wheatland FCU

Susan Lawson, PHEPLE FCU

Christina Mihalik, PCUA

Lindsay Moore, Frick Tri-County FCU

Addy Perales, Lanco FCU

Mileise Sabbatini, NET CU

Linda Stein, PHEPLE FCU

Corin Tinivell, Frick Tri-County FCU

About Global Women’s Leadership Network

The Global Women's Leadership Network connects credit union women and men with fellow leaders in other credit union movements all over the world and engages them in professional and personal development through online and in-person educational platforms. Global Women offers international perspectives on the common challenges we all face around the globe. By interacting with other professionals in a business forum, women and men can access unlimited resources and learn from the experiences of their peers. Global Women is a program of the World Council of Credit Unions bringing together credit union women from around the world. Since inception in 2009, over 2000+ women from 78 countries have joined the Network.