Princeton NJ Non-Profit Press Releases

Lawrenceville, NJ (Sept. 16, 2014) Dress for Success Mercer County recently announced the appointment of Debra Wachspress as its new executive director. The organization helps disadvantaged women in central NJ obtain employment and achieve professional advancement in the workplace. 

"Debra's breadth of experience will enable Dress for Success Mercer County to collaborate with more of the area's nonprofit organizations and serve the many women in our community we know need our programs." said Susan Veltre, board chair.  "We are pleased to have her leading us at this juncture when more and more woman are in need of effective job search and placement services." 

Wachspress has extensive non-profit experience with expertise in resource development, community organizing, and public affairs.  "I am pleased to join a very talented team of professionals to help women in our community on their road to economic self-sufficiency. Our job search services, professional support networks, and clothing boutique assist women in building their skills and confidence to go out and find suitable employment," said Wachspress.  "I am delighted to be taking on this leadership role to support women's empowerment and help them break the cycle of poverty. When a woman is able to support her family financially, especially if she is a single head of household, both she and her children benefit. Helping women find economically sustainable jobs that can ultimately lead to career advancement is incredibly rewarding."

Most recently, Wachspress was director of community engagement at the Boys & Girls Club of Mercer County, a non-profit organization based in Trenton that helps disadvantaged youths stay positively engaged in school, leading to increased graduation rates and entrance into post-high school career paths. She served on the development team for a successful capital campaign to build a new youth center on Spruce Street in Lawrence Township and also recruited and managed hundreds of volunteer mentors, tutors and recreational program assistants. Prior to that, she was the director of public affairs for the NJ Charter Public Schools Association in Trenton where she managed public affairs and led legislative and grassroots advocacy campaigns for over 80 schools. She also served as project director for the Lawrence-Hopewell Trail, organizing grassroots advocacy efforts to support the creation of a 20+ mile recreational trail through Hopewell and Lawrenceville. After the tragedy at Columbine High School, she served as the NJ State Coordinator for the Million Mom March which drew over 800,000 supporters to Washington, D.C. and to over 80 cities throughout the country on Mother's Day 2000 to advocate for common sense gun violence prevention laws. In this role, she recruited, trained and managed local volunteer leaders in 18 counties, built strong partnerships for effective advocacy, and served as spokesperson for local and national media.  She currently serves as an elected member of the school board for the Pennsbury School District.

Wachspress earned her B.A. degree in Political Science from Douglass College at Rutgers University and her M.A. degree in public policy from the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers.  A former resident of Lawrenceville, she currently resides in Yardley, PA with her husband Dan and three children.

About Dress for Success Mercer County -- Dress for Success Mercer County is a non-profit organization that promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support, and career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. The office is located at 3131 Princeton Pike, Building 4 in   Lawrenceville.  Services offered include a boutique where clients receive custom suits and accessories, a career center offering guidance, technology and job search skills, and a Professional Women's Group for job support and life skills training. All services are provided free of charge to eligible clients. Dress for Success Mercer County has assisted more than 2,500 low-income women since opening its doors in October 2007. The organization is a member of Dress for Success Worldwide, with more than 115 affiliates in the U.S. and overseas.