LA's Prom Closet Continues To Help Teens Achieve a High School Dream

News provided by

Apr 06, 2011, 03:13 ET

Fourth Annual "Dress To Remember" Event Continues Giving Hope To Teenage Girls

LOS ANGELES, April 6, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- LA's Prom Closet will celebrate its fourth annual dress drive on April 9, 2011 providing over 2,000 donated semi-formal and formal gowns to economically disadvantaged high school senior girls within the greater Los Angeles area. The 501c3 non-profit organization expects to help 240 girls attend their high school prom this upcoming season, continuing the organization's mission to empower young women by showing them any obstacle may be overcome if given the dedication.

The young ladies will participate in a daylong event titled "Dress to Remember," a pampered day that involves gown "shopping," dress fittings, accessory selection and workshop participation ranging from self-esteem building to makeup application.

Since Spring 2008, LA's Prom Closet has collected over 3,500 dresses and has changed the lives of nearly 500 girls through "Dress to Remember". This year's event at Cal State Dominguez's Student Union, partially sponsored by the Women's Resource Center, hopes to increase that number by half.

LA's Prom Closet works with school counselors, social workers, mentorship programs and local families to provide the girls the courage and support to participate. The organization strives to promote self-worth and give these women the much-needed affirmation for staying in school and pushing forward. LA's Prom Closet provides a stepping-stone for girls to realize their potential and the immeasurable opportunities that await them. This moment of confidence, grace and acceptance is their glass slipper to the future.

About LA's Prom Closet

LA's Prom Closet began in a closet, literally. Founder, Natalie Torres (29), decided to purge her wardrobe and give away clothing she no longer wore. While cleaning out her closet, she came across old formal gowns and bridesmaid dresses she had only worn once or twice. She was shocked to find that there was no place locally in Los Angeles to donate these dresses and knew there were many others out there with the same dilemma. Torres knew the social currency of these dresses for girls that might not be able to afford them, and thus decided to start an organization that would provide free gowns to girls who needed and deserved them. Enlisting several of her closest friends to help make her idea a reality, LA's Prom Closet began and has since turned into a successful annual event.

LA's Prom Closet is a non-profit 501c3 organization made of volunteers who rely on donated dresses, volunteer services and monetary donations to achieve its goals.

Contact: Mary Jo Salcido, LA'sPC
619.370.7008
[email protected]

SOURCE LA's Prom Closet