Career Wardrobe Holds 11th Annual Fundraiser Tonight

By Cherri Gregg

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Career Wardrobe provides suits and training to low-income women transitioning to work. The group will honor an extraordinary woman at the 11th annual fundraiser tonight.

Nikki Johnson-Huston, Esq. will receive the Fashioning Futures for Women Award. She is a fitting recipient since her life mirrors that of many of the women at Career Wardrobe -- times were tough, but she kept fighting.

"By the time I was nine years old, we were homeless on the street.  We went from sleeping on people's couches, borrowing a car and then ended up in the city's shelter system."

Huston's mom sent her to live with her grandmother. Years later, and after even more struggles, such as being dismissed from college, the Temple Law grad and Eisenhour fellow is living her dream as an attorney for the City of Philadelphia Law and youth mentor.

"Be better and do better and your dreams can become a reality."

Career Wardrobe's "A Perfect Fit: Portraits of Progress" event takes place tonight at 6pm at the Bellvue.  Career Wardrobe Executive Director Sheri Cole says more than 400 professional women are expected to attend the night's fundraiser.

"The men and women who are coming to support the Career Wardrobe tonight have the same story as the women we help.  These women need support and they may not have a mother, sister or grandmother, that can buy them a suit and explain how to interview or create a resume. But we at Career Wardrobe are that support and we help them do that."

And one of the big surprises is local television celebrities on the catwalk.

"We ask everyone to wear something from their own closet and then donate that item to a woman at the end of the evening. And that's a lot of fun!"

For more info or to attend the fundraiser, go to www.careerwardrobe.org.