Prom Dress Drive for Foster Care Girls a Success

"I feel so like Cinderella," exclaimed 17-year old Catherine, a Bronx Lehman HS senior, as she twirled around in a lemon yellow long gown. She was one of 90 girls in foster care who were picking out their prom dress from among nearly 500 donated dresses on Saturday, May 9. The gifts of gowns were the result of the "Sista Gyrlz Prom Dress Drive," through the efforts of Children's Services and radio station Power 105.1FM's DJ Déjà Vu. 

 
 Snow, a19-year old youth in foster care, sees her prom dress dreams come true.

"You have the power over your own self," said Déjà Vu, in urging the girls to have fun on their prom night. Her special brand of "straight talk" set the tone for the day's events and she talked to the girls about dating, self-esteem and goal setting. The dresses came with free tips on hair, make-up and styling from experts.
 
The girls got to choose up to three dresses from gowns and frocks donated largely by listeners to Power 105.1FM's month-long drive, as well as donors from the non-profit New Yorkers For Children, and from ACS employees.
 
Nineteen-year old Snow, who is in foster care and attends the Academy for Environmental Science, was looking for something "flowy." With the assistance of a celebrity stylist, she finally settled on a long, brown satin gown with white piping. "I feel so special in this," said Snow, "and I'm really happy with my choices. I want to thank everyone who did this for us." Snow's prom night is May 28, and she will also have a short, green silk dress for the "after party."

"The girls had so much fun searching through the racks," Assistant Commissioner Dominique Jones. "Their faces were priceless as they found the perfect one." Among the dozens of volunteers helping the girls find their dresses and offering advice were members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Pi Kappa Omega chapter.
 
Most touching was a little note tucked in an envelope attached to one of the dresses. The donor bought the dress for a daughter she never had, but gave the dress to a lucky girl. The donor wrote in the note to the lucky recipient, "You're my daughter for the night. Enjoy the dress, enjoy the prom."

 
(l-r) ACS Assistant Commissioner Dominique Jones with Power 105.1FM DJ Déjà Vu.

DJ Déjà Vu leads the girls in her “straight talk” advice.