"When you choose to serve —whether it's your nation, your community or simply your neighborhood—you are connected to that fundamental American ideal that we want life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness not just for ourselves, but for all Americans. That's why it's called the American dream."

-President Barack Obama

Put Your Best Foot Forward Happy Hour Fundraiser

Join Put Your Best Foot Forward D.C on October 7 at Midtown Loft (3rd Floor, 1219 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036) from 5-10 PM for a Happy Hour Fundraiser / Date & Silent Auction $10 suggested donation at door.
Click here to see the daters.

Silent Auction will be from 5-8 PM
Date Auction will begin at 7:30 PM
Bring cash or checkbooks and win!!!

If you would like to be auctioned off
contact Jessica Achtman at achtmanj@gmail.com.

Visit our blog or our events page to see pictures from our past events and fundraisers.

Put Your Best Foot Forward Workshops

Since 2006, our community-inspired and community-built initiative has been providing homeless, low-income, and underemployed individuals in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area with skills, tools, attire and confidence for success in today’s workforce. The initiative is designed to break down the traditional barriers to success faced by our participants for finding and keeping a great job. We rely upon the generosity of our community partners, corporate sponsors, and volunteers to make a sustainable difference in the lives of our fellow citizens.

PYBFF has brought together dozens of non-profits and coprorations, as
well as hundreds of volunteers to help local communities.

PYBFF Past Workshop Moments

Pictures from the recent first ever DC Workshop held on June 6, 2009 at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. Thank you to all who donated their time, expertise, clothes, and donations. You all helped make this event a success!

Double click on the slide show if you have problems viewing images.

Here are just a few of the comments our volunteers and participants
have shared over the years:

“What I liked the best was to see an immediate change in the participants; they left with the skills and confidence they needed to get employment.”
-Event Volunteer

“This workshop has given me the inspiration I need to turn my life around.
I hope this can be an event that continues because it was really great!”
-Event Participant

“This was my first workshop as a mature woman who thought I knew everything. I was wrong. I now know you are never too old to learn. I will absorb all relevant information that will benefit me in the near future.”
-Event Participant

Case for Action

While most low-income people are not homeless, low-income people are at the greatest risk for becoming homeless. Once homeless, the barriers to employment increase dramatically.

• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national unemployment rate in January, 2008 was 4.9%.

• The unemployment in January, 2009 was 7.6% and continues to grow.

• There are an estimated 750,000 homeless in the USA, and only 250,000 shelter spaces available.

• DC claims the 3rd highest poverty rate in the nation.

• As of 2004, nearly 1 out of 5 DC residents (19.1%) live at or below the poverty line

Click here for a full copy of the 2008 Homeless Enumeration Report for the Washington Metropolitan Region.

Accomplishments

To date PYBFF has held two employment training events with fantastic results:

April 2008:

70 participants attended the second event in Alexandria. The majority of survey respondents indicated they found better employment, increased responsibility, and/or increased their income within three months after this PYBFF event.

• 100% of volunteers rated the workshop either “well executed” or “very well executed"

April 2007:

40 members of the Alexandria and Arlington communities attended. More than 1/3 of the
participants found employment within two months of the event.

• 100% of volunteers rated the workshop either “well executed” or “very well executed”