More so than most important events in a teenager’s life, high school prom is an experience students reminisce about years after the special night ends.
Most of the more memorable outfits don’t come cheaply, preventing many students from participating.
The Fairy Godmother Project of Houston provides some of these teens with everything they need to capture those special memories and relive their limelight experience for years to come.
"Prom is more than about looking beautiful or wearing a pretty dress," Fairy Godmother Project Founder and President Ellen Chang said in a release.
"Everyone should be able to attend their prom with their friends and classmates."
Chang said she started the project after she tried to donate her prom dress in 2000, but wasn’t able to find a volunteer organization to support the cause.
"I wanted to donate it to somebody that could use it, because a lot of times people don’t use formal attire more than once," Chang said.
Members of the Disney College Program Alumni Association at UH heard about The Fairy Godmother Project and decided to help out by holding a donation drive this week as a service project.
"Each year (The Fairy Godmother Project of Houston) provides free prom attire to Houston-area high school seniors who cannot afford to purchase their own attire," said Disney College Program Alumni Association Marketing Director Courtney Touchstone.
In addition to formal gowns, students can drop off tuxedos and suits, jewelry, evening bags, mens and womens shoes, hair accessories, perfumes, lotions and cosmetics from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the University Center Satellite.
Touchstone recalled the value of her high school prom experience as something that all high school seniors should have the chance to enjoy.
"When I was a senior in high school, prom was the night my friends and I looked forward to all year," Touchstone said. "Knowing that other seniors are not able to experience the excitement of their own prom because they can’t afford to purchase a dress was heartbreaking."
Touchstone said she stumbled across the project online and thought it would be a great event for the organization to be a part of.
"I heard about The Fairy Godmother Project and thought that having a dress drive at UH would be a great idea," Touchstone said. "I knew that once other students on campus heard about the project, we wouldn’t have trouble convincing them to clean out their closet too."
Student organizations on campus were e-mailed about the project and many responded positively.
Touchstone also said the Disney College Program Alumni Association took into consideration that they would be affecting the lives of local teens.
"We really like the project because it’s helping people who are in our area," Touchstone said. "We’re not going to change the world doing it, but we might make someone’s day, or even their senior year. I’m sure we’ll do another drive like this again," Touchstone said.
Before being able to participate, high schoool students must first submit an application detailing their need for prom attire, Touchstone said.
Applications will be accepted through March 29 and are available online at www.fairygodmotherproject.com.
Students in need of prom attire will be able to select their free dress or tux on the project’s sixth annual "shopping day", held this year from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 30 at Page Parkes Center of Modeling ‘ Acting, 1535 W. Loop S., #100 77027.
"On that day, the selected students will be assigned a personal shopper/fairy godmother to help them choose a dress for prom," Touchstone said.
Chang said guests will have a lot to look forward to on shopping day, rather than simply being fitted for dresses.
"We’ll have make-up artists showing the girls how to do evening make-up," Chang said. "We’ll try to make it a fun event."
The Fairy Godmother Project is still in need of volunteers to help the students out on shopping day. Volunteers can sign up on the project’s Web site, and must attend a volunteer orientation on March 29.
Those who can’t make it to the drive today can still donate until March 29. Donations can be dropped off at Page Parkes Center of Modeling ‘ Acting after today. Donors can also mail their gifts year round to The Fairy Godmother Project at 7418 Pony Creek, Missouri City, TX 77459.
