B orn in Williamson, West Virginia, in the shadow of two mountains, Beverly Wright has held many titles - daughter, mother, widow, clerical expert, cancer survivor. She was referred to Dress for Success Columbus in 2007 by AARP and once she earned employment, she joined the Professional Women’s Group. She’s known as the shy one of the group, but that hasn’t stopped her from being a strong advocate for the organization or from being recognized as a two time scholarship winner for the WELD conference and a member of PWG’s leadership advisory committee. Life Before Dress for Success Columbus Beverly’s struggles with her personal health began during her time as a caretaker for her late husband, who died from black lung disease. In 2007, at the age of 55, she faced her toughest battle when she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. The diagnosis was devastating. When the doctor talked with her regarding treatment plans, all Beverly could think of was her mother - she died of the same disease when she was 55. Beverly explained that at one time, she wasn’t proud of her lifestyle and thought of herself as ugly and overweight. She struggled with being alienated by friends and family members after her husband’s death. “It was awful,” she said. “They thought they would catch this disease, but it’s not contagious.” So she was alone, and living off only her own income. She had to muster up enough strength to support herself through her treatments. The battle left her homeless and unemployed. Through this struggle, Beverly was only able to obtain $10 in assistance through Jobs and Family Services. She resorted to drinking water to fill her up. One day she tucked away her pride and asked a friend if he would treat her to a chicken dinner. She saved the bones from that meal in her freezer and would suck on them to help quell her hunger. ‘I have a big sister - Dress for Success’ When Beverly was referred to Dress for Success Columbus, she discovered volunteers that worked diligently to help her choose an outfit for interviewing. They were unaware of her illness, and even though there were limited plus-sized selections, Beverly came out of the experience feeling and looking beautiful. 11 | SUCCESS LIVES HERE While there, she discovered techniques that allowed her to mix and match her clothing to help expand her wardrobe. Dress for Success Columbus lifted her self-esteem and finally, she felt good about herself - both internally and externally. Beverly became employed shortly after. At her new job, she received many compliments about how she dressed. When she was asked where she got her great style, she would always say: “I have a big sister called Dress for Success.” During one of the Professional Women’s Group meetings Beverly attended,
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