As presenting sponsor, Steve Madden has made a $10,000 leadership investment in support of Hudson Helps initiatives that address students’ basic needs and remove barriers to academic and career achievement. Additional sponsorship and in-kind donation opportunities are available in support of the event.
“Steve Madden Presents the 2026 Career Closet Fashion Show: Your Runway to Success” will take place on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at the HCCC Culinary Conference Center, located at 161 Newkirk Street in Jersey City. HCCC students and faculty will serve as runway models, showcasing professional attire provided by Steve Madden. Following the event, the clothing will be retained by the College’s Career Closet and made available to students and alumni preparing for interviews, internships, and employment.
Buying business attire can be stressful for anyone preparing to enter the workforce, particularly when resources are limited. While skills and experience are essential, first impressions matter. A well-fitting suit or professional wardrobe can significantly boost confidence and presence. Since its launch in 2021, the HHRC Career Closet has provided more than 1,000 items of professional clothing to over 330 students, helping them take meaningful steps toward career success.
The College extends special appreciation to HCCC Instructor of Chemistry Raffi Manjikian, and his spouse, Steve Madden, Ltd. Privacy Counsel and Assistant Secretary Beata Safari. Their partnership and advocacy were instrumental in securing this sponsorship.
“The HCCC family is profoundly grateful to our partners at Steve Madden for their generosity in supporting our students beyond the classroom,” said HCCC President Dr. Christopher Reber. “By investing in programs like the Hudson Helps Resource Center and the HCCC Career Closet, our partners help ensure students have the resources they need to thrive as they transition into professional environments.”
Support from partners such as Steve Madden plays a critical role not only in the success of individual events but in the long-term sustainability of essential student support programs. As initiatives like the Career Closet continue to grow, they require ongoing investment to maintain inventory, staffing, facilities, and access. The College and HCCC Foundation are actively working to build a diversified base of philanthropic support to ensure these vital resources remain available for future generations of HCCC students.
The Steve Madden sponsorship builds on an ongoing partnership with Hudson County Community College. The company served as Gold Sponsor for the inaugural Career Closet Fashion Show in February 2024, contributing financial support and professional clothing for student use.
“At Steve Madden, we believe that meaningful impact begins with showing up for the communities we serve,” said Gregg Meyer, Steve Madden’s Chief Sustainability Officer. “The Career Closet Fashion Show reflects that commitment by helping students step confidently into the workforce. We’re proud to continue our partnership with Hudson Helps and Hudson County Community College.”
Proceeds from the Career Closet Fashion Show support the Hudson Helps Resource Center, which addresses food and housing insecurity, financial emergencies, case management needs, and other essential supports. Established in 2021, the HHRC serves thousands of HCCC students each year, advancing equitable pathways to academic and career success.
Organizations and individuals interested in supporting the event may contact Ariana Calle, Associate Director of Hudson Helps, at acalle@hccc.edu.
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About Hudson County Community College
Hudson County Community College serves more than 24,000 credit and non-credit students annually. The College offers more than 90 degree and certificate programs, including award-winning English as a Second Language; Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM); Culinary Arts/Hospitality Management; Nursing and Health Professions; and Humanities and Social Sciences. The HCCC Culinary Arts/Hospitality Management program was ranked number six in the U.S. by Best Choice Schools. The College’s School of Continuing Education and Workforce Development offers cutting-edge, industry-recognized, stackable credentials in alignment with high-priority workforce needs.
HCCC has partnerships with major four-year colleges and universities in the greater New Jersey-New York area and beyond, accommodating seamless transfer of credits for further undergraduate and graduate education.
The College has received dozens of national awards throughout the years. HCCC was a finalist in seven categories of the 2024 American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) “Awards of Excellence” and earned 2024 CEO of the Year, Faculty of the Year, and Student Success Awards. In 2023, HCCC received the Outstanding Member-Institution Award from the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU).
For the fifth consecutive year, HCCC was selected as one of only a few community colleges in the United States to be named a “2025 Most Promising Place to Work in Community Colleges” by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD). HCCC was one of 22 community colleges in the nation, and the only college in New Jersey, to be recognized by ModernThink LLC and the “Chronicle of Higher Education” as a 2025, 2024, 2023 and 2022 “Great College to Work For®” and named to the 2024 and 2023 “Great Colleges Honor Roll of Distinction.”
HCCC is one of two colleges in the United States to be named a Top Ten Finalist in all three program categories for the nationally recognized 2023 Bellwether Awards, and received the 2023 Bellwether Award for the College’s cutting-edge “Hudson Scholars” program, which also won the 2024 Bellwether Legacy Award.
The College’s exemplary work in advancing student success has been recognized with the 2025, 2024, and 2023 “Leader College of Distinction” designation by Achieving the Dream, the national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing community colleges as catalysts for equity and mobility in their communities. HCCC also earned the Campus Prevention Network Seal of Prevention in 2025, 2024, and 2023 for demonstrating leadership in digital prevention programming focused on student safety, well-being, and inclusion.
The Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) recently named the College the inaugural recipient of the 2025 ACCT national “Impact and Success Award.”
About Steve Madden
Founded in 1990, Steven Madden, Ltd. and its owned subsidiaries design, source, and market fashion-forward branded and private label footwear, accessories, and apparel. With bold, trendsetting designs inspired by street style and global influences, Steve Madden has become one of the most recognizable brands in contemporary fashion and is committed to empowering communities through philanthropic initiatives that support education, equity, and economic opportunity.
