Organization Raises Funds to Help Veterans Suit Up

By Suiting Warriors

June 1, 2016 – With Memorial Day 2016 now behind us, one nonprofit group is hoping to make sure we continue to remember and honor our veterans by offering a little assistance in transitioning from service to civilian life. For three years, Suiting Warriors has supported the transition of more than 1,500 service men and women from all branches of the U.S. military into the civilian workforce by professionally outfitting them in business attire needed to compete in the civilian workforce at no cost.

Suiting Warriors founder Star Lotta developed the group after the passing of a 23-year-old family member who lost his life six-months after his honorable discharge from the U.S. Marines in 2010. For a year after the tragedy, she taught herself about war related mental health issues and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). “By combining my skill-sets and personal experience in the men’s custom clothier field, and fueled by stories of transitional struggles that I’ve learned from our veterans, I wanted to provide a service to help them transition back into civilian life,” Lotta said.

In the last year alone, Suiting Warriors has trekked more than 15,000 miles to provide free suits, business attire, and professional style advice to our men and women in uniform. Professional style consultants provide guidance on dressing to impress and inspiring the additional confidence it takes to do well on a job interview in a highly competitive job market.

“Helping a veteran lessen transitional obstacles allows for both personal growth and a positive outlook,” Lotta shared. “Being dressed for success improves a person’s attitude and instills confidence, helping them to create a solid first impression in that new opportunity. What could be more important than helping these brave and amazing men and women join the civilian workforce and bring that expertise and ethic to our business community.”

Lotta said the group hopes to raise an additional $15,000 in funding this summer. They are also actively seeking businesses that would like to adopt the group as their philanthropy and cause marketing initiative. Volunteers, dollars and suits are all needed, she said.