Wishing everyone a Happy New Year! 2012
Hold Your Head Up will be closed until further notice. Founder Rachel Grady had her second brain tumor surgery on September 2, 2010. Drs. Allan Friedman, David Kaylie and Takanori Fukushima. They performed a successful surgery at Duke University Medical Center. Please keep her in your prayers and wish her a full and speedy recovery.
We will not be accepting clothing donations at our drop-off site Curves. Thank you for your support. We will continue to keep you updated.
More information will available to the public soon....God brought me through the brain tumor surgery. My team of three surgeons, nurses and staff were amazing. Thank you to my family, friends, love ones & community support. The recovery period will be a process, but I will get stronger each day. My first words waking up after surgery were I love you Dr. Friedman. God bless you all... I will continue to keep you updated on my progress..I will start physical therapy soon.
I won't say my journey is going to be easy but I will take one day at a time. I miss all the women who have been in our programs and each of you know how important you are to me and we will be connected forever.
I received a message from a Hold Your Head Up Client who was homeless and now has a great job, condo and just got her drivers license and a car. She said Ms. Rachel if you need a ride please let me know. This is what life is about! Everything is possible and never give up. ~Rachel
"If our body and face have changed by brain tumor surgery may everyone around us including ourselves see our spirit not only your flesh.. " RG
Hold Your Head Up will be closed until further notice. Founder Rachel Grady will undergo her second brain tumor surgery on September 2, 2010. Drs. Allan Friedman, David Kaylie and Takanori Fukushima will perform surgery at Duke University Medical Center. Please keep her in your prayers and wish her a full and speedy recovery.
We will not be accepting clothing donations at our drop-off site Curves. Thank you for your support. We will continue to keep you updated.
Rachel said, she is "deeply grateful" to everyone who has expressed support" as she tackles this new and unexpected health challenge." "Rachel also says she looks forward to returning to Hold Your Head Up and "doing everything to help women who are transitioning into the workforce to become self-sufficient.
Where there is Life, there is hope. Where there is Hope, there is life. May we be hopeful. May we have courage to conquer our brain tumors with our words, understanding that form follows thought. Many survivors experience their brain tumors as a gift. It grants us the truth and crystallizes the knowledge of what is truly important in life. Rachel Grady 8/30/10
DON'T LET ROAD BLOCKS UNDERMINE YOUR SUCCESS
HOLD YOUR HEAD UP is an non-profit 501(c)3 charity organization that was founded in 2008 by Rachel Grady. Rachel is a visionary and entrepreneur, who at one point in her life felt helpless due to a long illness and recovery from a brain tumor.This mother of two young adults has faced many obstacles in life but never gave up.
A great fulfillment came through volunteering and helping people in the community. God brought her through this very difficult time in her life. These trials and tribulations brought forth an extraordinary idea. This idea was the birth of "Hold Your Head Up".
COMMISSIONERS COMMUNITY CIRCLE AWARD
November 23, 2009
Hold Your Head Head Up was recently named the recipient of the
Durham County Government Commissioners Community Circle Award. The Commissioners Community Circle Award, based upon simple selection of criteria, is presented to organizations that exhibit excellence in the areas of productivity, creativity and commitment to citizens. Recipients of the award have proven that the services they provide help to improve the lives of citizens and the overall enhancement of the Durham community.
How We Work
Hold Your Head Up provides each woman with one suit, shoes, and accessories when she has a job interview.
When she successfully lands the job, she returns for additional
business appropriate separates that will help her build a professional wardrobe.
She also receives an invitation to join the Professional Women's group,
"A Women's Voice", our support groups and employment retention program.
Hold Your Head Up serves job-ready women by referral only. Clients come
from a range of non-profit organizations including domestic violence agencies,
homeless shelters and job-training programs.
What We Achieve
Our programs help women transition towards self-sufficiency by addressing their
social and economic needs in relation to work, home, and the community. Each
woman is a success story. She has gone from unemployment to economic
independence.
Why It Works The mission of Hold Your Head Up is to provide comprehensive
support for low-income women entering the workforce. Hold Your Head Up
strives to build the confidence and skills necessary to maintain a career by
offering vocational and emotional support to clients.
Our Clients
All ethnicity and races are represented. Seventy percent are single mothers.
All live below the poverty line before receiving our services.
Cost Suiting Program
No fees are charged to either the client or the organization that utilize this service.
How You Can Get Involved
- Donate new or nearly new, interview-appropriate women's accessories and suits
- Make a contribution to Hold Your Head Up
- Organize an accessory or suit drive in your office or community
- Become a corporate sponsor to raise funds and generate awareness
- Become an image coach and help women choose appropriate apparel for
their interviews and employment
Apparel Drives
Information
Thank you for your interest in learning more about Apparel Drives to benefit Hold Your Head Up. Please contact our office at 919.402.6984 to discuss your interest in more detail and learn about our specific needs at this time.
Due to limited space, and because it is imperative that we efficiently manage our inventory to best meet the needs of our clients, we can only accept donations of apparel and accessories from groups that have been pre-approved to host a drive for Hold Your Head Up.
Thank you for your interest in helping women move up and out of poverty and onto a path of self-sufficiency. We look forward to hearing from you.
Until the event has been approved, no public announcements can be made and the event may not be promoted in any way using the organization's name. Events must fit the mission and image of Hold Your Head Up.
Your Donation
We invite you to partner with us to promote the economic independence of low-income women in Durham, Wake County and Orange Counties in NC. Your tax-deductible donation will support career development opportunities and employment retention programs at Hold Your Head Up. The need is now please help us today. When our clients succeed the community wins.
Planned Giving
Help women facing challenges in our community achieve self-sufficiency for themselves and their families. It gives you the opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of others in your lifetime and beyond.
__$100 Mentor
__$250 Executive Sponsor
__$500 Professional Leader
__$1,000 Community Leader
__$2,500 Philanthropist
____________Other
Address:_____________
Phone:_______________
Email________________
Hold Your Head Up
P.O. Box 11005
Durham, NC 27703
Helping Disadvantaged Women Move into Employment
Hold Your Head Head Up aims to achieve the following outcomes for women transitioning into the workforce.
- enhance opportunities for sustainable employment
- increase access to self-development and soft skills
- advance financial independence
- improve family and community relationships
" AS ONE PERSON I CANNOT CHANGE THE WORLD BUT I CAN CHANGE THE WORLD OF ONE PERSON."
~Paul Shane Spear~
Most of our clothing and accessories are donated. We could not provide services to our clients without the support of the community! Thank you in advance for your donation. You make a difference in the lives of the women we serve!
"We Serve All Clients Through Referrals From Partners In Durham, Orange And Wake Counties."
Job Preparation* Employment Retention* Career Development Programs*
Donations: Business and organizations interested in assisting with fundraiser efforts or making tax-deductible donations can contact Rachel Grady at (919) 402-6984 or holdyourheadup@ymail.com
All donated clothing items and accessories are given directly to the women we serve. Hold Your Head Up does not sell anything. Items that we cannot use are donated to local shelters and non-
profit agencies.
Thank You! CURVES for Partnering with us and being our New Drop-Off location to Accept Donations.
Donations can be dropped off Mon-Fri 9:00 A.M. -1:00 P.M.
Mon-Fri 3:30 - 5:00 P.M. & Sat 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Hours at CURVES 4711 Hope Valley Road in Durham(Located in Woodcroft Shopping Center) (919) 489-62009 ( Ask receptionist for a receipt)
Visit our blogsite to learn more about CURVES and the great things they do in the community. www.curveslocal.com
501 (C) (3)
Effective
Date Of Exemption: June 4, 2008
Public Charity Status
What We Accept:
Pant/Skirt Suits
Jackets/Blazers
Slacks
Blouses (especially in white, cream, beige and black)
Pumps or flats in navy, brown, or black
Jewelry
Briefcases/Portfolios
Unused Cosmetics
***We are in particular need of plus-sized clothing (sizes 16 ***
and above) and shoes (sizes 9 and above). Hosiery in all sizes
(nude, off black, and coffee) would also be appreciated.
Sorry, We Do Not Accept:
Used pantyhose
Undergarments
Non-interview appropriate clothing
Hours
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Mon - Fri
Rachel Grady
Founder/ President & CEO
holdyourheadup@ymail.com
To volunteer for us please register with one of the following agencies:
The Volunteer Center of Durham, Volunteer Match, United Way Triangle NC and NC 211
All of our volunteers must go through the registration process
WORKSHOPS TO HELP YOU GET A JOB AND KEEP A JOB!
Appointments By Referral Only
Please Call To Register at (919) 402-6984
"A Women's Voice" Support Group enables clients to evaluate skills in self-responsibility, personal relationships, parenting skills and develop an action plan by which to measure progress.
February 2004 Newsletter
WORKSHOP SERIES
Hold Your Head Up professional workshops are offered free-of-charge and provide women with the skills necessary to succeed on the path toward economic self-sufficiency the personal and professional development workshops focus on resume writing, identifying work-place skills, interviewing skills.
These workshops and other related services contribute to an increased sense of confidence and dignity for clients.
"STEPPING STONES TO SUCCESS"
THE SUIT ROAD TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY
We could not do it without our ongoing support of our sponsors,volunteers, donors, and partners.
Referral Partners & Community Resources:
Urban Ministries of Durham
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh
Durham Housing Authority
Durham Crisis Response Center
Durham County Work First
Orange County Work First
Durham Employment Security Commission /Job link
Durham Technical Community College
Wake Technical Community College
Durham County Criminal Justice Resource Center
Family Violence Prevention Center of Orange County
Freedom House Recovery Center
Urban Ministries of Wake County
Helen Wright Center
The Women's Center
Pregnancy Support Services
Welcome Baby
Vocational Rehabilitation
UNC Sunrise at Horizons Program
TEN YEAR PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS
YMCA-Women in Transition
Genesis Home
InStepp, Inc.
Trosa
Haven House
Dove House
Access Job Link AmeriCorp-Millbrook
We work with female clients that are referred from partner programs. Any organization interested in becoming
a partner program should contact us at holdyourheadup@ymail.com
Job Readiness Training
- Goals
- Communication Skills
- Interview Techniques
- Effective Resume
- Professional Attire
- Employment Application
- Job Search and Career Options
- Employment Barriers Resolutions
- Time and Stress Management
- Self-Esteem Confidence Building
Rachel Grady
Founder/ President & CEO
(919) 402-6984
PO BOX 11005
Durham, NC 27703
holdyourheadup@ymail.com
Willo Jackson/ Director of Operations and Finance
ACCOMPLISHMENT: In 2010 Hold Your Head Up
has served over 1,000 low-income women seeking
career guidance and business attire since it's first year of inception in 2008 and provided valuable tools to overcome employment barriers.
BUSINESS NEWS
THANK YOU NBC 17 NEWS FOR YOUR
WONDERFUL NEWS COVERAGE. Jennifer Turk(Reporter)
Spa Day at The Helen Wright Center for Women Shelter
Video Link... 02/26/09
