Free prom dresses available to girls in need

Public Contact: Stephanie Littlefield, Anton’s Cleaners, Stephanie@antons.com or 978-851-3721 x15

Know a high school junior or senior girl in need of a prom dress?

TEWSKBURY, Mass. (March 3, 2015) – Red carpet awards season is a painful reminder for high school junior and senior girls that prom season is just a fantasy for families with limited financial resources. Caring Partners’ “Belle of the Ball” prom dress drive is looking for referrals through March 15th to help high school junior and senior girls qualifying for other forms of financial assistance who may choose not to attend their prom due to financial constraints. Belle of the Ball Prom Dress Collection program collects, cleans and distributes beautiful prom dresses at no charge to high school junior and senior girls who could not otherwise afford to attend their school’s prom. 
 


All dresses are cleaned by Anton’s free of charge as a community service as a program of Caring Partners, Inc., a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
Unlike other prom gown collection drives, this program culminates in a day-long “boutique” where deserving girls are invited for a day of personal shopping and pampering. Last year, over 400 girls participated in Boutique Day hosted by Simmons College, with close to 2,000 dresses in a variety of colors, styles and sizes displayed, all free of charge. To date, more than 2,300 girls have been outfitted since Belle of the Ball began in 2005.

Since attendance to Boutique Day is by “invitation only,” students must be pre-qualified by guidance counselors, teachers and social service agency personnel, who refer high school girls to the program. Referrals are welcome on the Belle of the Ball website at antons.com/belle.

The public is invited to help by donating good quality, gently worn or new prom dresses and like-new special occasion purses. These items can be dropped off at any of Anton’s Cleaners 42 locations or Jordan’s Furniture stores through April 4, 2015 (see antons.com for store locations). Monetary and in-kind donations are also welcome to cover jewelry, makeup and other accessories and prom-related services; visit antons.com/belle.

Last year, Anton’s Cleaners collected 6,244 dresses as well as thousands of shoes, purses and makeup items from more than 1,000 individuals from local corporations, nonprofits, retailers, media partners and volunteers. Anton’s Cleaners collected and cleaned the donated dresses, with cleaning services exceeding $231,965 in value, bringing the total donated to $1,473,824. Promotional partners on board this year including Anton’s Cleaners, Jordan’s Furniture, FOX25, The Bull 101.7, Kiss 108 FM, JAM’N 94.5, and Wicked Local.

Similar to Anton’s successful Coats for Kids drive which celebrated its 20th year last year, the collection effort will be coordinated with high schools, colleges, and corporate and community partners. Companies, organizations and schools interested in holding a prom dress collection drive, making an in-kind donation, or individuals looking to volunteer at the boutique can obtain more information at antons.com/belle.
 


More than a dress collection drive, Belle of the Ball is a powerful personal experience for each young woman who is invited to attend. The referred participants often come from difficult backgrounds, both financially and emotionally. Over the years, participants of Belle of the Ball have reflected that it was a wonderful experience not because of how they looked in their dress, but because of the positive change in the way they felt about themselves.

Belle of the Ball is the proud winner of the 2010 Purple Dress Award from donatemydress.org. 
For more information about Anton’s Cleaners Belle of the Ball, visit antons.com/belle.

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