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Scholarship awarded

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State Rep. Sid Michaels Kavulich: We can’t allow budget stalemate to persist, hurting Pennsylvanians

<p>PLAINS TWP. &#8212; A diamond in the rough.</p><p>These words are often applied to those women who have received assistance through the Luzerne County Dress for Success program, which equips women wanting to enter the work force with appropriate clothing, career savvy and a positive attitude.</p><p>Many come to realize their value, their beauty, their potential.</p><p>It seems befitting then that the organization&#8217;s annual fundraiser, entitled &#8220;Disco and Diamonds,&#8221; provided attendees a chance to win a one-carat diamond provided by Tovon &amp; Company.</p><p>About 200 people filled Wise Crackers Comedy Club Thursday evening, many saying they felt like the opportunity to participate in a positive event made them feel like they were already winners.</p><p>Linda Armstrong, the program&#8217;s founder and executive director, looked out upon the mid-week atmosphere of glitz and glamour, obviously moved by the opportunity to not only raise money, but to change lives.</p><p>&#8220;The better women do, the better society does,&#8221; said Armstrong. &#8220;When women work, their children are more likely to play sports, study hard and plan for college.&#8221;</p><p>Tommy Vanscoy was on hand representing Tovon &amp; Company, not only to identify the winning gem stone, but to celebrate the opportunity to make women&#8217;s lives better.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s wonderful to be here helping women who are looking to start their career,&#8221; said Vanscoy. &#8220;It makes a 100 percent difference, giving them confidence and self esteem.&#8221;</p><p>Armstrong credited the organization&#8217;s board of directors and the community with making the organization&#8217;s success possible.</p><p>Becky Brominski, of Dallas, a member of the board, said many attendees look forward to the event as an opportunity to enjoy drinks, hors d&#8217;oeuvres and do a bit of networking.</p><p>Kathy Coyle, of Scranton, enjoying the evening with friends, said the event provided a night out with the girls for a good cause.</p><p>Stacie New, of Nanticoke, entered the room smiling. She was the winner of a diamond at last year&#8217;s gala.</p><p>&#8220;I wasn&#8217;t expecting to win; I was here as a volunteer,&#8221; she said, &#8220;I was the next to last diamond to be examined.&#8221;</p><p>A graduate of Penn State, New did her internship at Dress for Success, learning not just about business and about clothes, but about life.</p><p>The real treasure, she said, was the opportunity to help women make their lives better.</p><p>Both the event and the attitude of attendees seemed to encompass the organization&#8217;s mission, &#8220;to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Carol Shedlock, a real estate broaker from Classic Properties, and Becky Brominski a Dress for Success board member from Dallas, watch as Tom Vanscoy examines one of the diamonds from a wine glass to see if it&#8217;s the real thing. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_benefit2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Carol Shedlock, a real estate broaker from Classic Properties, and Becky Brominski a Dress for Success board member from Dallas, watch as Tom Vanscoy examines one of the diamonds from a wine glass to see if it&#8217;s the real thing. </caption0><photoCredit0>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Luzerne County Dress for Success raises money to help women help themselves