Kate Spade New York partnered with Commonpoint Queens to host a SuitUp business competition for students. Volunteers from Kate Spade New York coached teams of students in developing new product ideas for the Kate Spade brand. The winning team designed a line celebrating back to school. Students reported gaining career skills and confidence, with many now interested in fields like marketing, business, and design. Volunteers also felt they made a positive impact and saw the program as encouraging students to join their industry. Both students and volunteers wanted to participate in future SuitUp competitions.

1. SuitUp with Kate Spade New York
07.26.2021
Opening Doors and Reimagining Pathways for
Students Everywhere…

2. students
served
volunteers
engaged
28
12
About Kate Spade New York
Founded in 1993, Kate Spade
New York has led the fashion
industry with optimistic
femininity, thoughtful details
and modern sophisticated
colors. They design handbags,
clothes, shoes, jewelry, home
décor, tech accessories and
so many other things that are
used every day. Kate Spade
New York is part of the
Tapestry house of brands.
About Commonpoint Queens
Commonpoint Queens is a
community based
organization that meets the
diverse and evolving needs in
the Queens borough. At their
center, people of all ages and
backgrounds come together
to find support, access
opportunities, and build
connections to community
throughout their lives.

3. `
Volunteers Students
100% Female 35%
0% Male 56%
0% Non Binary 0%
0% Prefer Not to Say 9%
11% African American 0%
0% Hispanic/Latinx 26%
78% Caucasian 0%
0%
Middle Eastern/
North African 1%
11%
Asian / Pacific
Islander
Hispanic
52%
0% Multi-Racial 0%
0% Prefer Not to Say 21%
Meet the Participants

4. Business Case Challenge
Through SuitUp, volunteers from Kate Spade New York and students from Commonpoint
Queens participated in a SuitUp business competition in which they designed a new and
innovative product for the Kate Spade brand, incorporating celebration. Volunteers
coached students in various departments before helping them pitch to judges for a cash
prize.
Winning Team:
Team 3 - Celebrating Back
to School
Team 1:
Celebrating Zodiacs
& Holidays
Team 2:
Celebrating
Halloween
Team 3:
Celebrating Back
to School
SuitUp to the Challenge

5. From Student to CEO…
A look at how we are changing life trajectories
through corporate skills-based volunteering

6. Competitions Make a Difference…
100%
of students NOW see
themselves having a
career using the
skills they learned at
SuitUp
86%
of students feel more
confident in school
and preparing for a
career after working
with SuitUp and their
coaches
100%
of volunteers believe
their company made
a positive impact
through SuitUp
100%
of volunteers see
SuitUp as a way to
encourage more
students to join their
industry or company
AFTER SUITUP...

7. Kate Spade New York Impact
SuitUp asked students if Kate Spade New York’s SuitUp
competition made an impact on what they want to
study when they go to college. 100% of students said
the volunteers helped them come to this conclusion.
What fields/career paths are our students interested in
after working with the Kate Spade New York team?
Marketing 14%
Business Administration / Entrepreneurship 20%
Graphic/Web/Digital 47%
STEM 20%
Other 13%

8. Same time
next week?
92% of volunteers are interested in doing a SuitUp competition again
100% of students liked their SuitUp competition and coaches
100% of students would like to participate in SuitUp again

9. During the competition, we
overheard…
“This has been such an amazing experience. I wish it was longer. I
could have spent the whole week with these kids. I learned so much
from these kids. – Kate Spade New York volunteer
It was an interesting experience for me and my teammates because
we got to see everyone’s good ideas. Now I think I can do this when I
grow up. - SuitUp student
I am so inspired by all of the CEOs and their hard work. – Kate Spade New
York volunteer

10. Get Involved
This board meets 4x a
year and helps SuitUp
implement its strategic
plan to scale and serve
more students.
JOIN SUITUP’S
CORPORATE
BOARD
MAKE AN INTRO
TO ANOTHER
COMPANY
SuitUp is always seeking
new corporate partners to
host and sponsor SuitUp
competitions. We work
across the US and even the
UK.
As a 501(c)(3) non- profit,
SuitUp is always seeking
financial or
in-kind support to
continue our work in
communities that need it
most. All gifts are tax
deductible.
GIVE
A GIFT
A huge thank you from all of us in the SuitUp family…
VOLUNTEER AT
FUTURE
EVENTS
Sign up for as
many chapters as you’d
like to keep an eye out for
open volunteer
competitions!

11. THANK YOU
www.volunteerSuitUp.org
Hope to see you again soon!