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The Princess Project, a non-profit organization offers free prom dresses and accessories to high school girls who are unable to purchase these things on their own.
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New or nearly new dresses and accessories can be dropped off in designated areas throughout the Bay Area, including two Santa Clara locations: Westfield Valley Fair Shopping Town at 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd. and the Decathlon Club at 3250 Central Expwy. The drive lasts through Feb. 29.
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A concierge employee at Westfield Valley Fair Shopping Town receives a dress earlier this week.
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Dress Donations Needed for Girls Attending Prom
By Cynthia Cheng
As we approach prom season, most high school girls are looking for more than just the perfect date. Finding the prom dress to transform one into the belle of the ball offers a challenge to many young girls who don’t have the resources to afford an evening gown. Fortunately there is a fairy godmother here to assist girls in financial need.
Enter The Princess Project, a non-profit organization that offers free prom dresses and accessories to high school girls who are unable to purchase these things on their own.
According to Y'Anad Burrell, The Princess Project’s publicist, the founders of the program initiated the concept of giving away dresses so no girl would be denied the opportunity to attend her prom just because she couldn’t afford it.
“It usually costs anywhere between $200 to $400 for a girl to go to the prom- that would include dress, shoes, hair and all that,” Burrell says. “Some students just can’t afford it."
Since the program began in 2002, The Princess Project has given away prom dresses and accessories to about 7,300 girls. The Princess Project’s success stems from volunteer, donor and community support. The organization is currently seeking donations for this year’s prom season. New or nearly new dresses and accessories can be dropped off in designated areas all around the Bay Area- in San Francisco, the East Bay, and the Silicon Valley. The Princess Project accepts dresses and accessories as tax-deductible donations.
Two Santa Clara locations are participating in the 2008 Community Dress & Accessory Drive from Feb. 25-29th. On these dates, Westfield Valley Fair Mall at 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd. and the Decathlon Club at 3250 Central Expwy will be accepting donations. Donation guidelines state that the prom dresses and formal gowns donated must be from 2002 to present, dry-cleaned and delivered on hangers, stylish, clean, and in excellent condition.
Stacy Carroll, marketing director at Westfield Valley Fair, says that that the mall has already collected over 150 dresses and accessories for the Princess Project. “We are excited to have found an organization that helps young gals in the Santa Clara County,” Carroll says. “This is our first year working with Princess Project Silicon Valley and we are already looking forward to partnering again next year!” Jaime Benes, the community outreach director at the Decathlon Club, says this is the second year that her organization has participated in the dress drive.
“Last year, our club collected three barrels of dresses,” Benes says. “This year, to help raise money for The Princess Project, we’re also planning a mother/daughter tea in the near future at the Courtside Club, our sister club in Los Gatos. Like the Decathlon Club, the Courtside Club is also accepting dresses.”
The Princess Project will host boutiques in the Silicon Valley for their dress giveaways on March 8, March 9, March 12, March 15 and March 16. Visit www.princessproject.org for more details or to fill out an online form to schedule a boutique appointment.
