Men's Wearhouse's Fourth Annual National Suit Drive Continues Tradition of Giving

HOUSTON, Aug. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- During the entire month of August, Men's Wearhouse will hold its annual National Suit Drive, the country's largest collection of gently used professional attire. This will be the fourth year that the company will devote an entire thirty-day period to encouraging patrons to transform their unwanted business-wear into a second chance for the millions of disadvantaged Americans facing joblessness.

Held at more than 900 Men's Wearhouse locations across the country, National Suit Drive collects men's and women's suits, shirts, jackets, ties, belts, and shoes and distributes them to local charities that share the vision of helping those with barriers to employment. For a complete list of store locations and participating nonprofits, visit www.nationalsuitdrive.com.

Despite recent job increases in select industries, the unemployment rate is still hovering just above an alarming 9 percent. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of July 2011:

• African Americans are experiencing a 16.2 percent unemployment rate that is almost 1.8 times the national average of 9.2 percent.
• The U.S. Latino population is experiencing an 11.6 percent unemployment rate.
• U.S. males are experiencing an 9.1 percent unemployment rate, while U.S. females are facing an 8.0 percent rate.

The power of a suit in the workplace is not to be underestimated, according to the nationwide Men's Wearhouse Well-Dressed Men Survey conducted earlier this year by Kelton Research for Men's Wearhouse. A full 75 percent of Americans polled believe well-dressed men are more successful in the workplace than their casual colleagues, and 22 percent of men actually believe they would earn more money if only they dressed better than they currently do.

Men's Wearhouse has long preached the value of a suit to a man's confidence. Known for his "guarantee," George Zimmer, Men's Wearhouse founder and executive chairman, sees National Suit Drive as "a chance to share that guarantee of assurance with those less fortunate and in transition into the workforce. A suit can do wonders to boost confidence in interviews and networking."

With National Suit Drive, those already reaping the benefits of being well dressed at work can share the wealth by simply cleaning out their closets. Incentives for donors go beyond personal satisfaction; in addition to providing a tax receipt, Men's Wearhouse will thank donors this year with a coupon for 50% off the regular price of all items (excluding shoes) for their next Men's Wearhouse purchase.

Despite talk of the recession's end, the goal for Men's Wearhouse's largest yearly philanthropic event is as ambitious as ever. Men's Wearhouse hopes to top 100,000 articles of clothing in thirty days. To boost efforts from donors, the company will match each suit donated with a donation of a brand-new tie. In addition, for every "like" on Facebook or Facebook Places "check-in" at a Men's Wearhouse store, Men's Wearhouse will donate one dollar to the cause, up to $10,000. Follow or join the conversation on Twitter with "#SuitDrive."

For a complete list of store locations, click here or visit www.menswearhouse.com.

About Men's Wearhouse

Since it was founded in 1973, Men's Wearhouse has become one of the largest specialty retailers of men's apparel in the country, with more than 900 stores carrying a full selection of designer and private-label suits, sport coats, casualwear, and accessories. Today, The Men's Wearhouse, Inc. family of companies includes Men's Wearhouse, MW Cleaners, K&G Fashion Superstore, TwinHill Corporate Apparel, and Moores Clothing for Men in Canada, making it one of North America's leading providers of quality and value in both apparel and apparel care. Men's Wearhouse also operates in a global corporate apparel and workwear group consisting of Dimensions and Alexandra in the United Kingdom. For additional information, please visit the company's website at www.menswearhouse.com.

SOURCE Men's Wearhouse