New York Fashion Designers and Garment District for Gowns Collaborate To Raise Funds for NYC Families in Need with #TheFloatingChallenge Campaign

Announced today, Marc Jacobs, Oscar De La Renta, Altuzarra, Proenza Schouler, Monse, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Prabal Gurung and many other designers have partnered with Garment District For Gowns (GDFG) to help raise funds for NYC families in need with the #TheFloatingChallenge campaign. Running through March 31st, #TheFloatingChallenge is a social media campaign to raise awareness and secure donations for The Floating Hospital (TFH).

For the newly launched campaign, the designers have donated select pieces from their collection to be raffled as prizes. #TheFloatingChallenge asks participants to share a photo of themselves “floating”, tag @TheFloatingChallenge and three friends who “keep them afloat” to pass on the message.

Participants are invited to make donations through the Garment District For Gowns website, which will automatically enter them into the raffle for the chance to win the donated designer items. The prizes will be drawn on March 31st with additional prizes awarded to creative submissions to #TheFloatingChallenge social media campaign.

Other designers and lifestyle brands taking part include Coach, Loeffler Randall, La Perla, Danielle Frankel, Augustinus Bader, Discount Universe, Standards Manual, Cinnamon Projects, Olivia Wendel, Maison Cruz, Piecework Puzzles and more to be announced.  Photos below: prizes; an example of the challenge; the instruction page.

All proceeds benefit The Floating Hospital, a 155 year old charitable organization that provides free healthcare services to medically underserved communities in New York City, primarily made up of families living in shelters and temporary housing. 

GDFG will be providing The Floating Hospital with critical PPE supplies and an extensive list of essential items urgently needed by the families they serve, including infant diapers, socks & underwear, childrens clothing, adult professional clothing to be worn during job interviews and more.  Corporate sponsorship has been secured to bolster the donation effort.

More than 15,000 families are temporarily housed in municipal shelters, and even more families and children live “doubled-up” in spaces rented or owned by others, such as friends or family members.  Millions of New Yorkers live on the razor’s edge, one personal crisis away from homelessness.  1 in 7 New Yorkers have lost their job in the past 12 months in the wake of the Covid-19 epidemic.

To learn more about GDFG please visit: https://garmentdistrictforgowns.com/. Visit www.TheFloatingHospital.org to learn more about the Floating Hospital.

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Source: GDFG, The Floating Hospital, Marc Jacobs, Oscar De La Renta, Altuzarra, Proenza Schouler, Monse, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Prabal Gurung, Coach, Loeffler Randall, La Perla, Danielle Frankel, Augustinus Bader, Discount Universe, Standards Manual, Cinnamon Projects, Olivia Wendel, Maison Cruz, Piecework Puzzles