Twenty years ago, someone at Martha O’Bryan Center made a cold call.

The company on the other end was largely unknown in Nashville. They didn’t know much about us either. But something clicked when they toured our campus.

That year, their employees held an informal sale from their own closets and garages and gave us $20,000. The CEO matched it from his own pocket. Three years later, they launched what would become an annual tradition: the Workwear Outfitters Golf Tournament.

In April, at the 20^th Annual Workwear Outfitters Golf Tournament, 69 golf teams filled the course to near-capacity. When it was over, Workwear Outfitters CEO Chris Holcombe and his staff presented a check to MOBC for $240,000, a record for the event that pushed their total contributions over two decades to more than $2.5 million.

“At Martha O’Bryan, consistency really matters,” said Kent Miller, Martha O’Bryan’s CEO. “And over the last 20 years no organization has been more consistent in their support than Workwear Outfitters. It’s allowed us to educate children, to support caregivers as they pursue more meaningful employment, to stabilize families, and to help families leave generational poverty.”

Marsha Edwards, who led MOBC for 25 years before transitioning to President Emeritus, added: “The leadership and people of Workwear Outfitters are truly exceptional. Their partnership has been critical to our ability to expand career opportunities for young adults and low-income families. Our strategy against poverty is to assist people in building a career that can support their family. Upward mobility is what brings hope and real momentum, and we are grateful to do that work together.”

The night before the tournament, Workwear staff and vendors gathered at the Nashville Palace for a party, silent auction, and raffle. And they heard from Charissa Woods, who put a face on everything their investment makes possible.

Charissa came to MOBC looking for summer camp for her kids so she find work and avoid losing their housing. At MOBC, she found much more. Family coaching. Adult education and a GED. A career bootcamp that sparked a healthcare career. A fresh start as a Medical Assistant at Neighborhood Health. And still ahead… nursing school at Trevecca Nazarene University.

“They didn’t just help me find a job,” Charissa told the room. “They helped me find myself again.”

That’s what consistent donor and corporate support looks like in a person’s life. Like us, Workwear Outfitters believes in the power of work, and their partnership is essential support for the life-changing momentum our families build every day.