Yanks assist group that helps women enter workforce as HOPE Week continues

NEW YORK – It was the second day of HOPE Week, and members of the Yankees were impressed by how Bottomless Closet is operated.

Located in midtown Manhattan, B.C. provides women of limited means with a blueprint for entering the workforce, capping it with professional attire to wear at in-person interviews. Through resume coaching, interview preparation and career development workshops, the company empowers women with tangible skills, self-confidence and resilience.

For its 25 years of service, B.C. was awarded a $10,000 check by the Yankees, which pleasantly surprised executive director Melissa Norden.

“It’s a pretty good day,” Norden said. “We really are reliant on donations from the public. So every little bit of money, support and exposure that we could get helps us get more women on their path to success. That’s what it is all about.

“It means so much that we were recognized as a small charity in New York City by such a marquee organization like the Yankees, who heard about our work and thought it was spectacular and wanted to be part of what we do.”

Yankees players Carlos Rodón, Ben Rice and Luis Gil worked with some of the women who are looking for a better life.

There was Gil watching a potential employee practice her interviewing skills with a potential employer.

“It’s great to come sit here and see how they … get into the process of getting a job,” Gil said through interpreter Marlon Abreu.

Rodón had a different perspective. After watching the women prepare for their future, it dawned on him that he doesn’t know how to write a resume.

“Baseball is our life,” Rodón said. “I don’t know how to [write] a cover letter or what an important day is like. These are things … that I have never gone through.

“Just standing here and seeing how important it is just to have those tidbits of what these women are going to get into, especially those that don’t have work experience … this is a great opportunity for them. It’s just a different lens.”

The MVP for this particular day was Rice and his girlfriend, Sarah Falkson. There was Rice speaking fluent Spanish to one of B.C.’s volunteers, Theresa Gonzalez, while Falkson was a godsend to Leidy Ortiz. Falkson was giving Ortiz her expertise on clothes, shoes and jewelry before meeting a potential employer.

“I think just elevating her in this pivotal experience in her own career was super uplifting for me and Ben,” Falkson said. “You look good, you play good, and I think that comes up in the corporate and career setting as well. It was really fun.

“I’m so inspired by all of the women we got to work with and just see … how Bottomless Closet really plays a huge role in making it peaceful and instilling confidence in all of these women to take on that next chapter.”

Ortiz said Falkson was encouraging and boosted her confidence in landing a job.

“It was teamwork. I’m so excited. It was like going shopping with your friend,” Ortiz said.