Editor’s Note: I am pleased to announce the following event on my blog. The Hotel Monaco, along with the Kimpton hotel chain, maintains a highly successful corporate responsibility program that supports a broad range of initiatives. I discussed the Monaco’s leadership in this area as part of a March 2008 article in Utah CEO.

MaryLynn Beck, general manager at the Monaco, believes in promoting a balanced work-life philosophy, encouraging employees to devote as much time to the quality of their lives outside of work as they do to their jobs. For the Kimpton Cares program, she asks employees each year what community programs should be supported and funded. This is one of the programs. Others include the Cottonwood Canyon Foundation Utah Food Bank,The Trust for Public Land, and the Utah AIDS Foundation.

Clearly, it is no surprise that the Monaco has earned plenty of awards, including being named one of the best business hotels by Travel and Leisure Magazine. Incidentally, last year’s drive brought more than 5,000 donations.

FROM HOTEL MONACO:

The Hotel Monaco on April 22 will hold its third annual “Drive by Suiting” with the goal of collecting career-appropriate clothing, new bras and other unmentionables for The Junior League of Salt Lake City’s “Support Local Women” campaign.

Women are asked to “support local women” between 6 and 9 a.m. Participants can contribute women’s interview-ready clothing, new bras and other unmentionables as well as gift cards of at least $15 from clothing and apparel stores (e.g. Target, Ross, TJ Maxx). In return, participants will receive coffee or hot chocolate, a breakfast treat and goodies from Nutri Soda and Pink Magazine. All cash donations will benefit Dress for Success and clothing donations benefit the Junior League of Salt Lake City’s “Women Helping Women” program.

Raffle tickets also will be available for excellent prizes, including round trip airfare for two anywhere American Airlines flies, Zero-Haliburton purses (valued at more than $450 each), Landis Salon certificates, Microsoft Office 2007 software, Microsoft Vista Ultimate operating system, and a $200 travel certificate from Hess Travel. The tickets can be purchased at the drive-by location or at the Hotel Monaco front desk for $5 each. Those donating a new bra or underwear will receive a free raffle ticket.

All donation drop offs will take place on 200 South between Main Street and West Temple on the south side of the street in front of the hotel.

For the 2008 campaign, the Kimpton Hotel chain and Dress for Success collaborate with major sponsors including Sean Combs, Diageo, Karen Neuburger, and American Airlines. Style icon Sean Combs has designed an exclusive scarf to be sold at Kimpton events nationwide and through Kimpton’s online retailer, KimptonStyle.com. All proceeds from the $30 scarf will benefit Dress for Success. KimptonStyle.com will also donate all proceeds from the sale of Karen Neuburger’s new leopard print camisole and boxers set (sold separately for $30), designed exclusively for Kimpton, to Dress for Success during the months of March and April.

WHAT TO DONATE:

All types of women’s business attire, especially:

Plus Sized Women’s Business Attire
New Bras
New Underwear
New HosieryToiletries/MakeupPurses/Briefcases
Belts and Accessories
Gift Cards of at least $15 to places like Target, Ross, TJ Max, etc.

For more information on the event, the public can call Jody Vance at (801) 990-9731 or email at jody.vance@hotelmonaco.com.