LGBTQ Celebrities Give Back at the Tonys

Mark Thompson READ TIME: 3 MIN.

Houston, TX - Broadway's biggest stars helped to support Men's Wearhouse's fifth annual National Suit Drive during the 66th Annual Tony Awards Backstage Creations Celebrity Retreat.

Tyler Perry, Amanda Seyfried, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and John Larroquette were among the stars who personally styled professional suits to inspire looks to be donated to National Suit Drive. Their generosity will help men in need transition back into the workforce in each celebrity's hometown.

Before hitting the red carpet, stars of the stage stopped by the 2012 Tony Awards Backstage Creations Celebrity Retreat to support National Suit Drive.

� New Orleans native Tyler Perry helped unemployed men by donating a Tommy Hilfiger two-button gray suit with a Calvin Klein gray and pink tie as part of the 2012 Tony Awards Backstage Creations Celebrity Retreat.

� "I love picking out ties," said 2012 Tony Awards presenter Amanda Seyfried while she was styling a look to donate to National Suit Drive. "It's really difficult though." Seyfried selected a Kenneth Cole black suit, a classic Jones of New York white shirt, and finished the look off with a gray and orange herringbone tie to donate to the drive.

� Modern Family star Jesse Tyler Ferguson donated a suit to help kick off Men's Wearhouse's fifth annual National Suit Drive and joked, "wear this [suit] with clean underwear" at the 66th Annual Tony Awards Backstage Creations Celebrity Retreat in New York City.

� "This is a really great thing you are doing," said 2011 Tony Award winner John Larroquette about Men's Wearhouse's National Suit Drive. The "How To Succeed In Business" star selected a Jones of New York black suit and black-and-silver check tie to donate to an unemployed man in his hometown of New Orleans.

"With 12.7 million Americans still unemployed, it is as important as ever that efforts to help men re-enter the workforce remain top of mind," said Doug Ewert, President and Chief Executive Officer at Men's Wearhouse. "That is why we are excited to kick off the fifth annual National Suit Drive as part of the 2012 Tony Awards Backstage Creations Celebrity Retreat. This year, we are even more committed to helping Americans find their strong suit."

To follow suit of these Broadways stars, Americans can donate at more than 900 Men's Wearhouse and Men's Wearhouse and Tux stores around the country from June 27 - July 31.

Patrons can contribute their gently used men's and women's suits, shirts, jackets, ties, belts, and shoes. All donated garments are distributed to local nonprofit partners that prepare men and women to re-enter the job market through resume-building workshops, interview preparation, and skills training programs. For every suit donated, Men's Wearhouse will give two business ties to the cause.

This year, people can raise awareness by visiting the Men's Wearhouse Facebook page to share images and videos or to track donations with a live donation tracker. They can also follow the conversation on Twitter for real-time updates with #giveasuit.

Founded in 1973, Men's Wearhouse is one of North America's largest specialty retailers of men's apparel, with 1,162 stores. The Men's Wearhouse, Moores, and K&G stores carry a full selection of men's designer, brand name, and private-label suits, sport coats, furnishings, and accessories, and Men's Wearhouse and Tux stores carry a limited selection.

This year marks the 66th anniversary of the Tony Awards, which were first held on April 6, 1947, at the Waldorf Astoria's Grand Ballroom. The Tony Awards, which were founded in memorial to Antoinette ("Tony") Perry, the American Theatre Wing's chairperson, are the highest honor in the Broadway community.

For additional information on Men's Wearhouse, please visit the Company's websites at www.menswearhouse.com, www.kgstores.com, www.mooresclothing.com, www.twinhill.com, www.dimensions.co.uk, and www.alexandra.co.uk.

For more info, visit: www.tonyawards.com


by Mark Thompson , EDGE Style & Travel Editor

A long-term New Yorker and a member of New York Travel Writers Association, Mark Thompson has also lived in San Francisco, Boston, Provincetown, D.C., Miami Beach and the south of France. The author of the novels WOLFCHILD and MY HAWAIIAN PENTHOUSE, he has a PhD in American Studies and is the recipient of fellowships at MacDowell, Yaddo, and Blue Mountain Center. His work has appeared in numerous publications.

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