PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – As the Career Wardrobe celebrates its 16 years of helping women in transition, it is presenting a special award to one of its volunteers, who had to overcome her own adversities to succeed.

Chrissey Ladd is assistant vice president of Audubon Savings Bank. But after a nasty divorce years ago, she had few options, “[I was] completely 100 percent alone. Uneducated, unemployed, no marketable skills and I lived in my car.”

When Chrissey became successful, she decided to volunteer for Career Wardrobe, which empowers women in transition by providing professional career clothing. She tells her story.

“When I first walk in, the perception is a high and mighty professional who has no idea what I’m going through today. I have been there, I have overcome.”

As Career Wardrobe celebrates its 16th anniversary, it’s honoring Chrissey Ladd with its first ever Fashioning Futures for Women Award as a gala celebration in June.

Reported By Karin Phillips, KYW Newsradio.