Prom season has rolled around in North Texas, but with the glitz and glamour comes a pretty penny.
The cost of a prom dress alone can run from hundreds to even thousands of dollars, but local groups have banded together to eliminate that cost barrier, hoping to give every teenager in Dallas-Fort Worth the opportunity to experience the prom night of their dreams.
Comerica Bank has collaborated with local non-profits for 10 years to establish free prom dress boutiques with over 7,400 prom dresses for teens to shop through. This year, they had three shopping events at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas, Dallas CASA and Boys & Girls Clubs of Collin County.
Shawn Wills, the CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs Collin County, explained the events are designed like department stores so teens have the chance to shop for and try on several different dress styles and options.
“Prices are just so expensive these days and this provides parents with the chance to check something off their list, to come in and assist their daughters and granddaughters or nieces to shop for a pretty prom dress,” Wills stated.
Along with the hundreds of dresses, LaToya Rowell, Comerica’s Community Relations Manager, indicated there are several tables with lovely shoes and stylish jewelry to accompany the dresses, all free of charge.
“They receive a free dress, but I also believe it gives them confidence,” Rowell said. “They get to look at themselves in a dress they have never worn before and for many girls, this is the first time they have ever tried on a gala dress or a cocktail dress, so I believe it gives them the confidence they need to look at themselves differently.”
For Walnut Grove High School student Jojo Adrober, her grin tells the whole story.
“It feels very nice to have so many people here to support me and assist me in picking out the ideal dress,” she said.
“When we’re nurturing (the teens) and encouraging all their hopes and dreams, it just makes them smile,” Wills explained. “And to have a community who circles their arms around our teens and lifts them up in such a way that it makes them feel special on a day as special as today is incredible.”
Comerica donated so many dresses to the North Texas Prom Drive Program this year that they still had dresses remaining after three successful weekend giveaway events. They donated the leftover dresses to a Dallas non-profit, Viola’s House, where teenagers in need of a free dress can pre-register for a shopping appointment at this link.
