Dressember

https://dressember-2018.funraise.org/fundraiser/elise-mance


The goal of Dressember is to use clothing to declare a message of dignity + freedom while working to raise support for human rights organizations like International Justice Mission, A21, and McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center. (Find a complete list of Dressember's grant partners here.) Participants commit to wearing a dress each day for the month of December, demonstrating the inherent freedom and femininity of all women.

Please consider donating to my fundraising campaign and ask yourself what you can give to this cause. Your generous investment goes to the ongoing work of IJM, A21, and McMahon/Ryan (and is also tax-deductible within the U.S.); no amount is too small to give to this great work. Plus it feels really good to know that you've done something to make a difference in the world.

Have a question about Dressember? Check out the Q & A below; if you don't find an answer there, send me an email! I would love to chat with you more about this great cause!


 
What is Dressember?

I like this quote from the Dressember Foundation; I think it says it best:
Dressember is a collaborative movement leveraging fashion and creativity to restore dignity to all women. Dressember uses fashion to advocate for women who've been exploited for their femininity. As women take on the creative challenge of wearing a dress for the 31 days of December, they are advocating for the inherent dignity of all women. Dressember exists to inspire and empower a global community of like-minded women who are locking arms to face one of the greatest injustices of our time. The heart of Dressember is freedom--that every woman has the right to live a vibrant and autonomous life.
Why are you participating in Dressember?

I first decided to participate in Dressember because during high school I was the victim of a repeat sexual crime. Thanks to the support of my family, I was able to share with law enforcement and see justice for the perpetrator. My heart breaks for children who don't have the support they need to see justice in their lives. Dressember is a small way I can help to change the world for people trapped in a system they can't escape on their own. It's what I would want someone to do for me if I were in that situation.

I have been an advocate since 2014, and once again, I want to participate. I can't sit on the sidelines and watch, I have to do something. Plus after raising over $8,000 from 2014-2018, I feel empowered to continue advocating. In the grand scheme of things, what I can do is small. It's not much, but it is something. When you combine what you can give with what others can give, you can make a movement bigger than any one person.

Do you have 31 different dresses? / Do you have to have a lot of dresses to participate?

Nope. Honestly I'm not sure exactly how many dresses I have, but I'm not wearing 31 different dresses this month. I'm sticking with about 10 different dresses and cycling through them. But you don't even need that many to participate. Some ladies challenge themselves to wear one dress all month long. Even if you have just a few, you can get creative and style them differently to create new looks. (Check out this post for ideas!)

Are you tired of wearing a dress every day? / Isn't it hard to wear a dress every day?

By the end of Dressember, my creativity starts to run dry. But really, I enjoy the challenge of wearing a dress every day. For me it's fun to style new looks and to embrace the concept that this is bigger than me liking or not liking dresses. So I would say no, it's not hard to wear a dress every day.

Aren't you cold wearing a dress in December?

It depends on the weather, but if it's frigid, I'm cold in whatever I'm wearing, unless I'm wrapped up in a zillion layers head to toe. So a dress isn't really very different. I layer up with leggings, sweaters, scarves, and wool socks, and keep nice and warm all month long

Why should I donate?

The big thing is deciding for yourself why you want to donate. Everyone has a different story, different things speak to us, and that's what makes Dressember beautiful. For some, they might give because of a past experience that compels them to help. Others may give because they are thankful for what they have and want to give back. Still others may simply want to make a difference in the world.

Whatever your reason, it's a good reason. The goal should be to do what you can with what you have. I personally love the feeling of rallying with friends and strangers around a great cause. It's so awesome to partner with others to accomplish something bigger than all of us.

How do I donate to Dressember? / Does Dressember accept PayPal? / Are donation amounts pre-selected or can I choose what I donate?

Donating to Dressember is simple. If you click the donate button on my page, a secure donation module will pop up. From there you can select any amount you wish to give. There are buttons for pre-set amounts, but you can also manually enter any amount you wish. You also have the option to give a one-time gift or monthly recurring gift. After that, all you have to do is fill in your information.

As of 2017, Dressember does accept payments via PayPal! You can also donate using a credit card. If you don't have a card or PayPal, talk to me and I can help you get your donation in.


https://dressember-2018.funraise.org/team/dressember-world-changers/?1234

Find out more about my Dressember team, World Changers, by visiting the team page or the World Changers Facebook group. The team is open for any Dressember advocate to join, regardless of geographic location or gender. The Facebook group exists for supporters, advocates, and anyone interested in learning more about Dressember or the team.



This section will be updated on an ongoing basis with news, information, links, and other resources related to Dressember. Please check back and share these resources with your social circles. A big part of Dressember is raising awareness about the issue of human trafficking, and I can't do that without your help!

>> IJM Newsroom: Articles about IJM rescues and related events
>> Human Trafficking: Stats, stories, and information / from A21
>> Facts and Statistics from McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center
>> Dressember FAQ: Find answers or submit a question
>> 2014 Statistics: A PDF / from Polaris
>> Hotline Stats / from the National Human Trafficking Resource Center
>> 6 crucial facts about human trafficking / from Mashable
>> 10 things you didn't know about slavery and human trafficking / from Huffington Post
>> Find out how many slaves work for you at slaveryfootprint.org
>> Global supermarkets selling shrimp peeled by slaves / from the AP
>> Dressember 2016 Annual Report
>> Dressember 2017 Annual Report

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