By Erin G.
When he was a teenager, University of Pennsylvania student Josh Greenbarg heard from his mother a story that would greatly impact him.
At the residential program where she worked, his mom had given a blazer to a young woman for an interview.
Beyond the practical value of dressing professionally for the occasion, his mother noticed something else. Wearing the blazer had an immediate effect on the young woman’s confidence, and she got the job.
This story inspired Josh to collect and give blazers to young adults for interviews, internships, and first jobs. Then, he and his mother formed Blazeryourway® Inc., a nonprofit with an important mission: “providing business professional blazers to young adults entering the workforce to help build confidence and ultimately lead to success.”
On October 1, 2026, Josh brought his efforts to JEVS Human Services (JEVS) with a Blazeryourway® event for JEVS’ Work Ready and The Choice is Yours (TCY) programs.
More than a Blazer
A blazer is practical, but its value is greater than a piece of clothing. As the Blazeryourway® mission page emphasizes, “A blazer changes how you carry yourself before you say a word.”
Yet many individuals who are applying for early employment opportunities do not always have the resources to get the very item that signals professionalism.
That’s why the gift of a blazer not only provides a needed clothing item but also inspires confidence in a person who’s striving toward independence.
Many JEVS’ participants face such barriers. Work Ready supports individuals receiving TANF and SNAP benefits in overcoming obstacles to self-sufficiency. The Choice is Yours (TCY) works with individuals who have previous justice-system involvement and provides mentoring to continue their education, gain job-skills training, and complete community service. Both programs provide critical resources to give individuals the opportunity to shape their futures. In line with the mission of JEVS, that begins with supporting individuals in becoming job-ready and gaining employment.
Work Ready and TCY often hold clothing events where participants can select an outfit for an interview.
In hosting an event with Work Ready and TCY, Blazeryourway® provided a beautiful complement to existing services.
Creating an Immediate Impact – and Including a Special Message
At the JEVS and Blazeryourway® event on October 1, 2026, participants were greeted with a row of neatly hanging blazers.
After choosing a blazer, participants got to add one more aspect to their selection: a “Top 3 About Me” tag. Each blazer from Blazeryourway® adds a special reminder: an inner label on which participants get to write their own strengths. It means that each person can glance inside the blazer and get a quick reminder of the qualities they possess.
As they left the event, 26 women carried a blazer as well as a reminder of their inherent worth.
Malika Scott, JEVS Resource Coordinator, captured the impact: “The blazers were more than professional clothing. They became a reminder that confidence can start from within, and sometimes a few encouraging words are exactly what someone needs to keep moving forward.”
On behalf of JEVS, she added, “WorkReady and The Choice is Yours (TCY) extend a sincere thank you to Josh Greenbarg for bringing Blazeryourway® to our programs and helping us create an experience that our participants can carry with them long after the event. We truly appreciate his generosity, his vision, and his commitment to helping others feel empowered as they step into their future endeavors.”
Support the Missions of JEVS and Blazeryourway®
As Josh learned as a teenager, one individual can make an extraordinary difference in the life of another person. Are you called to do something, too? To learn more and get involved, be sure to check out the ways you can support JEVS and support Blazeryourway®.
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