DLJ Give to Live Foundation Hosts Jersey City Fashion Week

Online, September 17, 2013 (Newswire.com) - As nonprofits struggle to gain awareness and raise funds, social entrepreneurs like Program Manager Desha Jackson of the DLJ Give to Live Community Foundation, find ways to bring the community and nonprofits together. Jackson combines fashion, celebrities, and the community to help raise funds and awareness of several area nonprofits.

From September 25-28, Give to Live will host their second annual Jersey City Fashion Week (JCFW) at Liberty State Park. Not only will there be a strong focus on fashion from community designers, but raising funds for the area's nonprofits is a major component of the event. Funds raised from the event will be donated to Rising Tide Capital, Uneeek Inspiration, and the Hope Center for the Visual and Performing Arts.

"I was looking for organizations that help rebuild the community," said Jackson. "Uneeek Inspiration gives kids hope that there is a better tomorrow, Rising Tide Capital directly helps the community by supporting small businesses, and the Hope Center gives kids an opportunity to be creative."

With stiff competition from fashion week events around the world, Jackson wanted to stand out by having a charitable component throughout JCFW. "We wanted Jersey to have a moniker of its own - we can say that we're the only fashion week that donates its proceeds to the community and beyond."

Last year JCFW donated $900 to each of the following charities: York Street Project, Art House Productions, Dress for Success of Hudson County, and the Boys and Girls Club of Hudson County. "This is a great way to address fashion, community and nonprofits in one grand event [and] bring awareness to the masses," said Rafael Perez, who participated in last year's JCFW as a featured designer, and joined the host committee this year. "Jersey City is a great place and there is no reason why it should not be a part of the overall fashion circuit."

This year's JCFW will feature guest appearances from Style Network's reality show star Sharie Mamom of Jerseylicious, Justiin Davis of HBO's hit series Boardwalk Empire, Linda Claude-Oben, wife of former NFL player Roman Oben, and more. JCFW will host an array of events including a Network VIP Reception featuring international designer Sadia Hussain of House of Sadia, a fashion show that highlights influential women of the community, a children's fashion event and more. For more information on JCFW or to purchase tickets, please visit their website at www.jerseycityfashionweek.com.

DLJ Give to Live Foundation is sponsored by United Charitable Programs (UCP), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit fiscal sponsor of active charitable programs. Through this fiscal sponsor, Jackson is able to focus solely on his program's charitable works, rather than the administrative burdens a nonprofit can have. All donations to DLJ Give to Live Foundation are tax-deductible.

UCP's mission is to empower people to help others by fiscally sponsoring targeted charitable programs that effect positive change through charitable, educational, scientific, or religious actions worldwide. UCP programs vary in size, budget and scope, but all share the desire to make a difference in the lives of others. For more information about UCP and fiscal sponsorship, please visit www.UnitedCharitablePrograms.org.

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