Sharp Dressed Man, a Baltimore nonprofit dedicated to empowering men to improve their lives through a professional presentation, has received a $50,000 donation from King C. Gillette, the iconic company’s collection of beard grooming and shaving products.
The company has also provided 500 products to the nonprofit, including a range of beard grooming kits for men, beard and face wash, beard oil, and beard balm.
“Sharp Dressed Man believes that every man should look and feel good when they leave our doors. Many a time, clients have worn their suits home from the shop because of how it makes them feel,” said Christopher Schafer, founder of Sharp Dressed Man. “To say we were happy to receive this donation is a gross understatement. We were shocked, overjoyed, elated, ecstatic, but most of all grateful to King C. Gillette for selecting our nonprofit for such a generous gift.”
Sharp Dressed Man began in 2011 when a client brought Christopher Schafer Clothiers two garbage bags of custom suits that no longer fit.
As someone who received a second chance to better his life, Schafer said he wanted to create something that would empower others to improve their lives. In the last 11 years, Sharp Dressed Man has helped prepare over 10,000 men for workforce readiness.
Gillette officials said they chose to partner with Sharp Dressed Man because they aligned with Gillette’s vision.
Both organizations believe that providing necessary supplies to men in need would significantly boost their confidence and composure, giving them the power to present their best selves to future employers and continue the journey toward success.
“With the generous monetary and product donation, Sharp Dressed Man will be able to help many individuals looking to come back from homelessness improve their lives by equipping them for job interviews and other occasions with well-fitting suits and grooming products,” Schafer said. “We are so grateful to have the ongoing support of such a generous company. The funds will help us grow tremendously, and I know the guys are going to love the high-quality shaving products from King C Gillette.”
The donation will also help Sharp Dressed Man maintain its program for the next year and allow the nonprofit to continue developing a mobile program that Schafer said responds to some of the restrictions imposed on community partners because of the pandemic.
“This innovation will give our organization the ability to transport garments, host onsite fittings and giveaways in Baltimore City and surrounding counties,” Schafer said.
Schafer relayed one of several inspiring stories that reveal the value of the nonprofit.
“A few years ago, a gentleman named Maurice came to us to get suited, and [we] met him at the front desk. He couldn’t get past the tattoo on Maurice’s face,” Schafer said.
“He felt horrible for passing judgment, but it made him uneasy when Maurice wouldn’t make eye contact with him. Wouldn’t you know, when [we] called for the next client, we called Maurice’s name. It took a while to click, but we found him garments just his style, making him look great and winning his trust. Maurice started opening up.
“We recently learned that Maurice remains quite the dresser, has a good job, and covers the tattoo until he can remove it. His mentor said that the honest conversation that the two of them had that day made an impression and that he’s not been the same since.”