The Extra Mile - Spring 2009 - SNHU Academic Archive - Southern ...

SCHOOL OFBusinessoverstocks. It could even be a new sample that gotdiscontinued.”Going NationalFor her latest attempt to show support to militarymembers and their soon-to-be families, Janson usedall her experience and connections to organize anIndependence Day gown giveaway last summer. Fiftygowns were donated to her store from bridal shopsall over the country. The event went so well that shedecided to coordinate a national effort and host similarmilitary-focused events aroundthe United States. To honor thetroops around Veterans Day,she coordinated giveaways at20 stores, from Arizona toGeorgia to Rhode Island. Theevents yielded more than 1,000gowns. She organized anothergown giveaway in Fall River,Mass., over the holidays andgarnered more than 150 gowns.Last summer, 22-year oldRachel Nelson of Haverhill,Mass., was busy planning herJune 2009 wedding while herfiancé was deployed to Japanafter serving in Afghanistan.She read about the bridal gown giveaway through alocal newspaper, and her reaction was pure excitement.“I couldn’t believe it. It really touched me to knowthat someone reallycares about us back“home,” Nelson said.“This act of kindnessthat Heidi[coordinated] wasso amazing. It tookone more load off of my shoulders.”Going GlobalMilitary brides from around the globe are benefitingand can even get dresses that match their specifications.During the giveaways, women can log on toJanson’s Web site, www.thebridalstockexchange.com, andHeidi Janson shows off one of the donated dresses.e-mail their specifications. Soldiers from Iraq andGermany have contacted her with their style, sizeand color preferences. Janson sends them picturesof various gowns from which they can choose.Janson profits from the giveaways, albeit not financially.“Philanthropy is a way for me to give back all the goodthings that I benefit from. Why not make a differenceand try to help those in need? I want to spread the wordso that other women can help, empower themselvesand, most important, help someone in need,” she said.Beyond BridesJanson has since expandedher philanthropic effortsoverseas by focusing onbridal parties after thewedding. About a year agoshe founded an online store,The Bridesmaid Party, thatfeatures a recycling programfor bridesmaid dresses.“What female doesn’t havean extra bridesmaid dress ortwo hanging in their closet?”she said.Janson sends the fabric fromdonated bridesmaid dressesoverseas to Africa and Afghanistan, where poor womenwith HIV make napkins, linens, sheets and more andare able to sell them for a 100-percent profit.My theory in life is what you give out you get back. Business is theheart of America and if each business took a part in helping a cause,America would be more prosperous and stronger.– Heidi Janson ’86Photo by Ben Laing/Newburyport Daily News”“This is more rewarding than anything I have everdone. I love doing the charity part … it just makesyou feel good,” Janson said.For more information about upcoming gown giveaways for militarybrides, contact The Bridal Stock Exchange at 617.877.6396 or e-mailinfo@bridalstockexchange.com.The Extra Mile | Spring 2009 | 7