NEW YORK FASHION TEAMS UP WITH GARMENT DISTRICT FOR GOWNS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR NYC FAMILIES IN NEED
#THEFLOATINGCHALLENGE CAMPAIGN TO BENEFIT THE FLOATING HOSPITAL, WHO PROVIDE EMERGENCY RELIEF & FREE HEALTHCARE IN NYC
#THEFLOATINGCHALLENGE RUNS FROM MARCH 3RD – MARCH 31ST ON INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, TWITTER, REDDIT & TIKTOK
Premier NYC designers Marc Jacobs, Oscar De La Renta, Altuzarra, Proenza Schouler, Monse, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Prabal Gurung and others have teamed up with Garment District For Gowns (GDFG) to help raise funds for NYC families in need. The designers have donated select pieces from their collection to be raffled as prizes in conjunction with GDFG’s #TheFloatingChallenge campaign.
Launching March 3rd and running through March 31st, #TheFloatingChallenge is a social media campaign to raise awareness and secure donations for The Floating Hospital (TFH). #TheFloatingChallenge asks participants to share a photo of themselves “floating”, tag @TheFloatingChallenge and three friends who “keep them afloat” to pass on the message. Participants are invited to make donations through the Garment District For Gowns website, which will automatically enter them into the raffle for the chance to win the donated designer items. The prizes will be drawn on March 31st with additional prizes awarded to creative submissions to #TheFloatingChallenge social media campaign. Other designers and lifestyle brands taking part include Coach, Loeffler Randall, La Perla, Danielle Frankel, Augustinus Bader, Discount Universe, Standards Manual, Cinnamon Projects, Olivia Wendel, Maison Cruz, Piecework Puzzles and more to be announced.
All proceeds benefit The Floating Hospital, a 155 year old charitable organization that provides free healthcare services to medically underserved communities in New York City, primarily made up of families living in shelters and temporary housing. GDFG will be providing The Floating Hospital with critical PPE supplies and an extensive list of essential items urgently needed by the families they serve, including infant diapers, socks & underwear, childrens clothing, adult professional clothing to be worn during job interviews and more. Corporate sponsorship has been secured to bolster the donation effort.
More than 15,000 families are temporarily housed in municipal shelters, and even more families and children live “doubled-up” in spaces rented or owned by others, such as friends or family members. Millions of New Yorkers live on the razor’s edge, one personal crisis away from homelessness. 1 in 7 New Yorkers have lost their job in the past 12 months in the wake of the Covid-19 epidemic.
ABOUT GARMENT DISTRICT FOR GOWNS
GDFG is a female-founded, NYC-based non-profit organization that provides healthwear and crisis relief to medical facilities and community organizations. Founded in the wake of the Covid-19 epidemic, they have manufactured and distributed medical isolation gowns for over 46 Hospitals and Healthcare facilities, donating more than 11,000 gowns to date–all proudly made in the USA. Comprising members of the fashion community–with experience at designer labels including Oscar De La Renta, The Row, Ralph Lauren and Coach–GDFG is an advocate for domestic manufacturing, having mobilized over 1200 U.S. jobs within sourcing and production. GDFG was in the first round of awardees of the Empire State Development grant.
ABOUT THE FLOATING HOSPITAL
The Floating Hospital is a charitable institution that combines healthcare, social support, and the delivery of necessities to New York City’s neediest families, with a particular focus on women and children. TFH’s unique integrated-care model includes medical, dental, and behavioral health programs and free health-education programming all under one roof. It also offers a free shelter-to-clinic shuttle service from nearly 300 locations throughout the five boroughs. True to its historic “more than healthcare” model, TFH also provides essentials such as food, seasonal clothing, diapers, and hygiene products to families living with homelessness. The Floating Hospital has a deep commitment to meeting the needs of diverse populations; both our staff and the populations we serve is nearly 98% BIPOC.
Founded in 1866, TFH is one of the last family-practice-based charity hospitals in the city, extending high-quality, compassionate care to families regardless of race or ethnicity, immigration or insurance status, or ability to pay. Today, the Hospital maintains a 23% charity rate, which is 10 times higher than other not-for-profit hospitals, which average charity rates of 1-1.5%. Since its founding, the Hospital has served more than 5 million New Yorkers. For more info, visit their website.
