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Ambassadors Formalwear by Gilda is making news! 

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MADISON  PRESS:  AMBASSADORS FORMALWEAR BY GILDA RECRUITS LIKE-MINDED VENDORS AND AREA TEENS TO STAGE CITY-WIDE PROM FASHION SHOW AT ROCKETOWN

             MARCH 8, 2009:  “It’s hard to believe that we’re already six years old…and counting!”  That’s the sentiment that Audra Davis, Director of Programming for Rocketown, expressed on Saturday, February 28, as she stood in the midst of a great number of teens decked out in formalwear.  It was the birthday bash to rival all others, an all-day event that started with skateboarding and dodge ball competitions and ended with a Prom Fashion Show. 

            “The fashion show came about when Gilda York, owner of Ambassadors Formalwear by Gilda, connected with me at a Kiwanis Club of Madison TN meeting, where she is a long-time member and I was a newbie presenter.”  Says York, “After I listened to Audra explain how cool Rocketown is, what they do to give teens what they are looking for, which is acceptance and a place to be themselves among their peers, I really felt like I wanted to involve not only my Ambassadors, but kids from area high schools all over Davidson County and beyond, in celebrating Rocketown and its mission.” 

            The Ambassadors to which York refers are male high school students who excel across the board, in academics and community service.  These young men are recruited by York to model the fabulous tuxedos and formal suits that come out of her shop in the North Gallatin Road/Madison area.  And they do it with flair and flash, as was evidenced at the Rocketown Fashion Show. 

            But, York did not stop at involving only her ‘Ambassadors models’ in this special Rocketown birthday event. She also recruited other vendors to participate in the one-hour show, including:  Blue Nova Designs, The White Room, Street Tuxedo, Scentaments, Head To Toe Hair Salon, The Look, Premier Coach Buses, Glitz Bridal and Formal Wear, First Impressions Limousine Service, Mary Kay, Journeys Shoes, even I Do Music DJ Service.  “And this list does not even include the over 90 students we had participating from high schools all over the city,” York admitted. 

            The fact that so many teens were willing to give up a Saturday afternoon to celebrate Rocketown is testament to the great work that Davis and her team do.  Besides providing entertainment options for teens, including concerts and after-school programs in a facility that houses a coffee bar; photography, art and dance studios; stages for live entertainment; and Middle Tennessee’ s only indoor skate park, Rocketown also offers unique programming and scholarships for disadvantaged youth who come from circumstances that involve neglect, abuse, poverty, absent parents and normal peer pressures.  Davis explains, “Through these diverse programs, teens who come to Rocketown and get involved discover new interests and develop new talents.  They find skills that help them to build a sense of purpose, and they even sometimes find their way back to a better family dynamic.” 

            On that February afternoon, as the I Do Music DJ cranked up the rock-jazz to high gear, and the models began strutting onstage between four colorful cylinders of muted pastels coordinated by Blue Nova Designs, proud moms and dads, other devoted family members and friends, cheered the teen models as they showed off the prom fashions of 2009 in a place that has already welcomed over 1,350 of their peers from across Middle Tennessee to be a part of a venue whose mission is to “share the love of Christ with youth through creative programs and mentoring relationships that are culturally and eternally significant.”

            If you would like to know more about Rocketown, its rich history and current programs, please visit the web site at www.rocketown.com.  You may also check out pix from the event by clicking on Rocketown.

             NEWS:  Trenton, IL - November 15, 2007...Ambassadors Formalwear recently received an Elite Retailer of the Year award from Jim's Formal Wear.  Jim's is the largest formalwear distributor network in the U.S. with over 5,000 independent retailers.  They provide tuxedo rental services for weddings, prom and black tie events.  The award is based on rental volume, order accuracy and exceptional customer service.

             Ambassadors Formalwear has been renting tuxedos from Jim's since February (2007).  According to Steve Davis, Vice-President of Marketing for Jim's, "Our Elite Retailer of the Year recipients are among the best when it comes to men's formalwear rental and sales.  They are extremely focused on the customer for the most important events in their lives.  We are proud to have retailers like Ambassadors Formalwear by Gilda in our nationwide network."

MADISON – OCTOBER 25, 2007:  Hip New Formalwear Store Makes It Official With Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony on November 1, 2007 

            Gilda York has been 27 years in the business of making men, both young and old, look handsome at the prom or on that special wedding day, so it just stands to reason that she might want to put the spotlight on her talents in a facility that is a showcase for hip fashions and traditional classics.  “On Thursday, November 1, at 9:00AM, I am hosting a Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony at my new location, and I want to invite everyone to come join me as we make Ambassadors Formalwear by Gilda officially ‘official’.” 

            Located at 1714 North Gallatin Road in the Rivergate McHenry Center (the anchor stores are Books-A-Million and Hobby Lobby), Ambassadors Formalwear features one of the classiest decors this side of Davidson County and, dare we say it, Middle Tennessee!  “We’ve built a customer service area, administrative suite, and dressing rooms using a color scheme of gray, black and silver with shades of burgundy blended throughout , and we have received nothing but rave reviews from our customers.”   

Billed as the store that has the selection and style to fit both the unique personality of the client, matched to the special occasion, whether it be a prom, wedding, special black tie fund-raiser or any formal event, Ambassadors Formalwear by Gilda uses these strong classic colors to promote both hipness and traditional style.  And this theme is further complemented by the young men Gilda has recruited over the years to showcase her formalwear.  “I started the Ambassadors program with the idea that I might give back something to the high school students who come in regularly to be fitted for tuxedos for the prom, homecoming, choral events or special parties, because they make up a big part of my clientele.  The students who become Ambassadors must be high academic achievers and civic-minded individuals, and be excited about showing off their style in front of crowds, which have been steadily growing due to their increasing popularity.  The Ambassadors now have their own fan base, and that is unique to this business.” 

While both Gilda York and the young men who lend their ‘name’ to the Ambassadors Formalwear by Gilda store get ready for the big day, the store is already welcoming customers searching for the tuxedos guaranteed to make the best memories.  Stop by 1714 North Gallatin Road and get a sneak peek, then make firm plans to join Gilda and the area Chambers of Commerce, along with other business men and women, friends and neighbors, on Thursday, November 1, 9:00AM, to cut the ribbon on a store that has all the ambience required to choose the right ‘look and feel’ for a special day.  For information regarding store hours, please call 865-4640.  You may find more information about Ambassadors Formalwear on the web at www.ambassadorsformalwearbygilda.com.

MADISON – FEBRUARY 16, 2007:  American Tuxedo in Madison is now Ambassadors Formalwear by Gilda

Manager becomes owner at formal wear store.  York also created Ambassadors program to give young men community service projects 

By Lea Ann Overstreet for Davidson AM /The Tennessean

           Prom season is coming up, and an old store with a new name and new owner is just waiting to dress customers from head to toe.
            American Tuxedo in the McHenry Center is now Ambassadors Formalwear by Gilda.
            Gilda York managed American Tuxedo for several years, but when the opportunity came to own the store herself, she jumped at the chance.
            “People kept telling me that they thought I already owned it because who would work 14 to 15 hours a day for someone else?”   York said, “I’ve known the owner since I was 19, and I always said once my kids were grown, I’d like to own it myself.”
            With her daughter soon to graduate from college and her son in the Navy, York figured it was now or never.
            “I mean, how often do you get to do something 24 hours a day that you love,”  York said.
`           Some customers may wonder why change the name of the business after working there for so long, but for York, the new name is all her own.
            About 15 years ago, York created the Ambassadors program.  The Ambassadors were actually high school students who helped promote the business by participating in prom fashion shows.”
            “I started out having good-looking guys in high school wearing the tuxedos, passing out business cards and giving out coupons.  Once I got to know the kids, I just felt they all had the capacity to do good things,” York said.
            “I discovered there was a need for kids to do community service work, so I added the community service aspect about 10 years ago.”
            Now, not only do the Ambassadors help York promote formal wear, they perform community service acts of kindness.  Last year, the participating Ambassadors logged more than 1,300 hours of community service, she said.
            Debbie Pace, president of the Madison-Rivergate Area Chamber of Commerce, says the Ambassadors are “learning what hard work, dedication and integrity is all about.”
            “What Gilda has done with this program has been great,” said Vicki Moser, Director of Marketing and Promotions for the Chamber.
            Moser also helped York design the new store’s logo.
            “I was privy to the guys rehearsing for one of the fashion shows some weeks ago and it was something to see these young men practicing their dance steps.  It doesn’t matter what bracket these young men’s families are in, whether they’re middle class or less or more than that, this is one time you just focus on the individual himself.”
            “The program lets them shine,” Moser said.
            York says no matter how much fun the Ambassadors have, it’s the community service they remember the most.
            “The kids remember what they’ve done and take pride in it,” York said.
            “It’s not just performing in the fashion shows we do at the high schools or meeting pretty girls.  There will be 50 to 70 young men from different high schools like from Pope John Paul socializing with young men from Pearl-Cohn.  It’s often different cultures and different backgrounds coming together and that’s what they remember.”
            “They remember playing Bingo with seniors at the Salvation Army.”
            “I’ve learned that kids will give you what you expect out of them.  If you expect them to be losers, then they’ll be losers.  But, if you expect them to achieve great things, then they’ll do great things,” York said. 

Getting there

What:  Ambassadors Formalwear by Gilda
Where:  1714 N. Gallatin Road in the McHenry Center
Contact:  865-4640