Mendota Heights 'Fairy Godmothers' Get Girls Prom-Ready with Operation Glass Slipper

Even in the wide warehouse space, a voice rings out: "Are we excited?"

It's quickly met with an enthusiastic cheer from girls in prom dresses, volunteers, seamstresses and parents. Then, the swishing of taffeta seems even more lively, as high school junior and senior girls from numerous metro school districts hustle from shoe racks to jewelry displays to makeup samples.

It's official: Operation Glass Slipper is in full swing.

Founded in 2006, the organization is run by a Mendota Heights mother-daughter team, Pam and Emily Philipp. Recalling the moment of inspiration, Emily laughs affectionately about how her mother burst into her room to tell her about a project that sent prom dresses to Hurricane Katrina victims. "She didn't want to just send a few dresses to that drive," said Emily. "She envisioned something here, for girls who felt that they couldn't go to prom because they couldn't afford it."

As a high schooler at the time, Emily saw firsthand how important prom could be in terms of self-esteem and inclusion. As the annual event has grown, they've both been amazed at the kind of transformation that can come with slipping on a formal gown. "There's a moment when the girl looks in the mirror, and you can tell she has a new view of herself," Pam noted. "She sees how beautiful she is, and wow, you can't imagine how powerful that can be."

Held last weekend in a space at the Mall of America, the two-day event brought in nearly a thousand girls. Each participant must be referred by a teacher or counselor to make an appointment, and once checked in, she's paired up with a "fairy godmother" volunteer who shepherds her through dress selection, and the other stations like shoes, jewelry, makeup, scarves, bags, and alterations. Nearly everything is donated, although the Philipps do have to buy some shoes since those must be new. Over 500 volunteers, including 27 seamstresses, are on-hand for the event, and even that number didn't feel like enough, Pam noted. There's no cost to the participants for anything they choose, or for being part of the event.

One volunteer who's been involved nearly since the beginning is Erica Ramisch, a language arts and drama teacher at Henry Sibley High School. When she heard about the project, she knew five girls who could benefit, but the event had passed. So, she called and pleaded for some help. Pam opened her warehouse to the girls, and Ramisch became a dedicated volunteer for life. This year, she referred ten girls and helped at check-in with measurements, smiling broadly as the tape measure dangled around her neck.

"I love seeing the girls' faces, when they realize they're so pretty," she said. "It can be exhausting, the event, but it's also invigorating, because you can see how grateful the girls and their parents are."

As she looks out over the sea of girls trying on heels or standing motionless for a seamstress, Pam is confident about the organization's success, and envisions an even bigger event for next year. "There's no reason why a girl shouldn't be able to go to prom, if she wants to," she said. "That night of looking beautiful and feeling beautiful is important, and I'm so happy we can help to make that happen."