Rue21 helps deliver clothes and a message to girls

Rue21 inc. is launching an unconventional philanthropy initiative designed to resonate with the retailer's target market.

The retailer is taking on the title sponsor role of the Threads for Teens 2015 Tour. Threads for Teens gives brand-new, on-trend clothing to underprivileged teen girls, and provides free workshops designed to build their self-esteem and instill confidence. This month, Threads for Teens will travel across the U.S. in a mobile boutique providing clothing and hosting conferences that will include workshops on goal setting and dressing for success. Rue21 Associates will volunteer in each city on the tour to assist in styling the girls with the donated clothing and accessories.

In addition to Threads for Teens, this fall Rue21 will continue its commitment to the Glimmer of Hope Foundation, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit currently funding the largest pre-menopausal breast cancer research study in the United States. Each October, rue21 makes a financial donation to Glimmer of Hope in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

An integral part of rueGIVESback is rueRelief, a platform to provide merchandise donations and resources to those Associates who experience a personal or financial hardship due to a catastrophic event. Over the years rueRelief has provided clothing and gift cards to Associates in need, and through rueGIVESback, rue21 intends to expand this program in 2015 and beyond.

"We're very excited to officially launch rueGIVESback," said Bob Fisch, President and Chief Executive Officer of rue21. "Our Associates and customers are motivated by their passion for improving the world, and with the establishment of rueGIVESback we have created a platform to support the causes that are important to them. We will give back to the people and communities that have made us successful."

Associates at Rue21 will also have the opportunity to volunteer their time and participate in local charity events or raise money for charities in their respective communities, building a team of local rue21 volunteers to raise money for an organization of choice in their own backyards.