Jerri Rosen is being remembered for the decades she spent working to empower and lift others. She died Wednesday, May 14, at age 79.
Thirty-five years ago, Rosen founded Working Wardrobes, a nonprofit dedicated to giving people affected by domestic violence, homelessness, drug abuse, incarceration and many other barriers the clothing and tools to find employment and regain stability in their lives. She spent more than 30 years as the organization’s CEO.
In 1990, Rosen and a group of five friends hosted a Day of Self-Esteem to help domestic violence victims. “Little did we know that the emotions generated from this one-time event would evolve into 35 years,” said Joann Hilton, there for that initial event. “Her vibrant personality and leadership made everyone want to be on her team. She was magical.”
Out of that effort grew an ongoing operation that, as of this year, will have helped 135,000 women and men secure jobs. With a budget of $8 million, the organization now has 2,000 volunteers and a staff of 40.
“Jerri was a force of nature in a very small package,” said Bonnie Pomush, who took over the CEO role from Rosen in 2021. “She wasn’t afraid to attempt to change the world for the better, and she absolutely succeeded.”
What drove Rosen, said Pomush, was “the power of one person to be able to make a difference.
“She saw that in herself, but she more so saw that in her fellow humans, and she knew deeply that if you were able to offer a hand up to empower a person, that the world would be their oyster.”
Working Wardrobes offers professional attire — some 500,000 clothing pieces are donated each year — and workshops and other career services. It has a donation center in Irvine, a career center in Santa Ana and four thrift shops — the Hanger Outlets in Costa Mesa and Garden Grove, and the Hanger Boutiques in Laguna Niguel and Tustin. The group also works with military service members transitioning into civilian life and helps their spouses who are preparing for new careers.
The nonprofit now serves clients in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, partnering with dozens of social service agencies, shelters and other organizations.
It was a year after she retired that Rosen was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Pomush said.
“She fought it bravely, courageously and determinately for over two years,” Pomush said. “In December, the cancer had been at bay, but it came raging back and she decided not to continue treatment.”
Even after her retirement and throughout her treatment, Rosen, who is and was synonymous with Working Wardrobes, stayed in touch and was aware of the organization’s continued work to enrich people’s lives.
“It was the peak of her life’s work to create this organization and invite the power of every person to contribute to this mission,” Pomush said.
“In the fabric of Orange County, there is a common thread that often comes back to Working Wardrobes,” she added. “The power of one person making a difference is catalyzed here every day. Jerri was very aware of what she started and how the ripple effect is infinite.”
Previously retired from the hospitality industry, about six years ago, Phyllis Mitchell, of Rancho Mission Viejo, realized that financially, she needed to continue working. She got involved in a Working Wardrobes program that helps seniors and ended up landing a job on the nonprofit’s staff.
“It really changed my life and helped me learn new skills,” she said. “It helped me improve myself.”
She also interacted with Rosen, whom she described as supportive and a mentor.
“She made me feel comfortable,” Mitchel said. “She made me feel like I was in the right spot.”
After her retirement, Rosen threw herself into working on her book: “Pants and Skirts on Fire: The Story of Working Wardrobes.”
” I talk a lot about the heroes who helped me do so much over the years. And there are some lessons people can learn,” Rosen said in a 2021 interview. “I’m not suggesting people start a nonprofit organization; there are way too many of those in our world today. It’s really about getting involved in something that moves your heart.”
Sam Dawson has been working on the final edit for Rosen’s book, which she said is “entirely Jerri’s voice.” The two met 25 years ago.
Rosen was so charming it was difficult to say no to her about anything, Dawson said, including helping produce a show about Working Wardrobes after Rosen got a call from a Garden Grove community television channel. The show ran for nine years.
“You don’t think people watch that kind of TV, but wherever we would go, people would point to Jerri and say, ‘You’re the lady on TV,’” Dawson, a Laguna Beach resident, said. “It was very helpful in getting donations both for clothing and financial, which she needed.”
Including after a fire destroyed Working Wardrobes’ headquarters in 2020.
“The Orange County community rallied around Jerri so fast,” Dawson said. “Nicole Suydam, CEO of Goodwill, called Jerri that night and said, ‘We have space for you.’ They were up and running the next day.
“The community around her, everybody loved and adored Jerri,” said Dawson, who counts Rosen as one of her best friends.
“To meet her is to love her,” Dawson said. “She was always a people person, she always had time for you, she just had a glow about her, and you said, ‘I want to be in her presence and help her do what she’s doing.’”
Jana Turner, of Scottsdale, AZ, also said she quickly formed a friendship with Rosen after meeting her several years ago. Rosen had asked Turner to join her board, but Turner said she opted to be friends instead and “advise” from afar.
“We just hit it off and became pretty much best friends,” she said. “It’s interesting for anyone today to have a best friend late in life. She was in her 50s, and I was in my mid-40s. Jerri always made you feel like you were the center of attention and focused on what you had to say. She had such a thoughtful, empathetic message back to you. Her sense of humor was crazy good.”
The two traveled the world, Turner said, adding some of Rosen’s favorite spots included Israel and Egypt.
On their trip to Israel, Turner said Rosen, who was Jewish, was adamant about finding a tallit shawl.
“When she found it, she cried,” Turner said, describing the garment as cream and orange and looking fabulous on her friend.
Rosen was also eager to find a special tea set, which Turner said they finally found in Morocco. “We went to three countries for that tea set.”
“She was always curious and wanted to expand her educational base,” Turner added. “I learned a lot on those trips with her.”
Rosen moved from Irvine to the Reata Glen community in Rancho Mission Viejo in 2022, and there, Turner said, Rosen, who had been married twice, found love again with Harvey Kaufman, who lived in the same community.
Even from him, Turner said, Rosen tried to conceal how extreme her illness was so that the two could enjoy quality time together.
A month ago, when Turner said she recognized that Rosen’s end was near, the two spent four days at San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara.
“It was like ‘fake till you make it’ for her,” Turner recalled, adding that though she knew Rosen was in pain, Rosen did her best to hide it because she didn’t want to take anything away from the experience. “She always had an up voice and always just sounded so perfect.”
“I call it a life of love,” said Turner. “She loved life and she loved helping people, she just did.”
A celebration of life is expected to be planned for Rosen in June.