By snoadmin
A group of Cal State Long Beach alumnae are making the wishes of many girls who want to attend prom come true.
LA’s Prom Closet is a nonprofit organization that provides donated dresses to less fortunate high school seniors in the Los Angeles area so they are able to attend prom. It relies entirely on donated dresses, volunteers and monetary donations to achieve its goals.
Natalie Torres, 28, founder and president of the organization, reached out to Long Beach Unified High School District schools. In addition, girls are being helped from theLos Angeles area.
“We know how hard it is to be able to attend those memorable events as a teenager because so many of us lived or knew someone experiencing similar financial challenges,” Torres said.
The original founding members include Jeanna Duff, Jessica Cooley and former CSULB Delta Zeta sorority sisters Torres, Mary Jo Salcido, Jennifer Miyamoto and Angelica Guiterrez-Mercado. These women have experience in retail, public relations, marketing and social work.
“We know these young women are our future — they are the teachers, social workers, nurses, doctors, lawyers of the next generation,” Torres said. “We make their lives a little bit easier by supporting them now, so that one day they are able to reach that point. I think we are here to help those that can’t help themselves in this moment.”
The third annual Dress to Remember gown giveaway event, where girls will select dresses and participate in a variety of self-esteem workshops, will be held March 27.
Allison Hata, LA’s Prom Closet publicist, said that at the 2008 Dress to Remember event, there were 45 girls; in 2009, about 127 girls; and in 2010, there will be an estimated 240 girls.
Since the number of girls receiving dresses has doubled, the day will be split in two sessions: one that includes workshops, which the girls must participate in to receive a dress, and then the dress selection itself.
“Last year, the Dress to Remember event had a selection of 1,000 gowns for girls to choose from,” Hata said. “This year, it will have more than 4,000 dresses.”
Hata added that the event also involves a day of pampering: dress fittings with seamstresses, accessory selection and workshop participation that ranges from self-esteem building, etiquette skills and motivational speakers, to makeup, hair and nail tutorials. There will also be a workshop for parents and students on how to apply for financial aid.
“In the long run, we hope that by providing young women with the opportunity to attend this milestone high school event with confidence and grace, we raise their self-esteem to help them realize all the great things they’re capable of accomplishing,” Hata said.
Torres said LA’s Prom Closet is dedicated to empowering economically disadvantaged teenage girls. The organization strives to promote self-worth and provide a stepping stone for girls to realize their potential. Its goal this year is to help as many young girls as they can and to get the community more involved.
“We hope to support all the teens that ask for assistance. The economy has caused the number of our referrals to triple, but we will do anything in our power to reach as many as we can,” Torres said. “Our goal is to find a place where we can provide dresses and hold workshops on multiple days because it distresses us to know that teens hear about our service after the annual event is already over. It breaks our hearts to turn girls away with so many in need.”
Two weeks after the Dress to Remember event, the organization will be kicking off a boys’ event called Long Beach Community Action Sponsorship, which will provide tuxedos and include similar workshops, tips and fittings.
To donate a dress or make a financial contribution, e-mail donatelapc@yahoo.com.
