An alternative to black ties

NEWPORT BEACH — All throughout high school and college, Fullerton resident Indika Wijesekera, 30, was living a partyer’s life, which included drug abuse. After he got into some trouble, he landed himself in rehab at the Salvation Army and eventually found his way to the office of Working Wardrobes, a nonprofit that helps men and women in negative situations turn their lives around.

After some help from the career counselors and wardrobe specialists at Working Wardrobes, Wijesekera pulled himself up, got a job he loves, has plans to graduate from college in May, and recently bought a house in Anaheim Hills.

To show his appreciation and so that he can help others, Wijesekera serves on the board of Working Wardrobes, which is based in Fountain Valley, and on Saturday helped kick off the first event of a new guild, called Speak, associated with the organization. He joined a group of 40 at Duffy Electric Boats on West Coast Highway for two hours of fun in the harbor in order to meet and promote the new philanthropic social group for young professionals.

Co-founders Megan Klink and Jimmy Harless thought a younger voice was missing from many areas of philanthropy and so wanted to create an arena for people in their age bracket, 21 to 40, can meet like-minded people, have fun and help worthy causes.

“I’m 37, and it’s nice to have people in the same age group as me who also want to make a difference,” Laguna Niguel resident Monique Largé said.

Largé has served on Working Wardrobe’s Designing Women Guild, which also supports the organization, but generally the women in the guild weren’t in the same place in life as Largé, she said.

“We’re a little bit out of the mold,” Working Wardrobes general relations manager Brooke Fessler said. “Not everyone can go to the black-tie balls, which Working Wardrobes certainly has, but it’s not just not everyone’s bag.”

The Duffy Boat scavenger hunt served as a way for Speak members, friends and those who were interested in helping to get to know each other.

But the impetus is helping Working Wardrobes. Harless hopes the new guild’s events, such as an outing to an Anaheim Ducks game, will attract young people.

For more information, go to www.workingwardrobes.org or e-mail speak@workingwomen.org.