Free Prom Dresses

Today, April 30^th, is the last day for San Diego women to donate their gowns to Gown Town, a local event that provides free prom dresses to girls in need, no questions asked. Evening gowns, bridal dresses, and formal wear are welcomed in all shapes and sizes. Gown Town is hosted by local radio station Star 94.1. The event was formerly hosted by the Jef and Jer Show, but is now hosted by the A.J. in the Morning Program.

Another charitable organization in San Diego that provides free prom dresses is the Princess Project. They began an operation in San Diego in 2009. Here is some information about the Princess Project from their website, http://princessproject.org

The Princess Project promotes self-confidence and individual beauty by providing free prom dresses and accessories to high school girls who cannot otherwise afford them. Our effort is made possible through invaluable volunteer, donor and community support.

How the Princess Project Works

Every year, The Princess Project seeks and receives thousands of beautiful new or nearly new dresses and accessories in EXCELLENT condition from individual donors and corporate partners. Hundreds of volunteers accept and organize these dresses and accessories to run an exciting giveaway event in the early spring for individual high school girls. Groups of ten or more teens who want to attend can make an appointment for a private boutique.

Each year, hundreds of Bay Area girls attend the dress giveaway to find that new prom dress and those perfect accessories to make their high school prom a reality. And it's all FREE! Since 2002, The Princess Project has served over 9,000 girls through the dedication of more than 700 volunteers and the generous start-up support of Coro Northern California. In 2005, The Princess Project became a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

The Princess Project History

2002: One girl. One email. Hundreds of dresses. The Princess Project began in February 2002 when one girl needed a dress for her prom. Our founders, Laney Whitcanack and Kristi Smith Knutson, responded to her simple request for help by collecting dresses from friends and family. Within days, women from all over the Bay Area responded with overwhelming support through donations of their "time, talent, and taffeta," and so The Princess Project was born.

2003: The Princess Project holds its annual event, expanding service to include three boutique nights for groups of girls and doubling the number of girls engaged to 650.

2004: The Princess Project continues to grow its outreach, dressing nearly 1,000 girls for prom and raising a record $20,000 in direct support for the event.

2005: The Princess Project experiences a banner year-serving over 1,200 girls and becoming an official 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

2006: Through the two boutique nights and giveaway events, The Princess Project serves a record number of girls, over 5,000 to-date! A satellite chapter in the South Bay has its first year reaching more high school girls and sending them to prom in confidence and style.

2007: With the Silicon Valley & San Francisco locations running like a well-oiled machine, we serve over 1,800 high school girls! Prom has never been so stylish!

2008: Three's a Company as we expand to our third location in the East Bay with a generous grant from The Barrios Trust! Our national press coverage includes a spot on America's Next Prom Queen. Co-Founders Laney Whitcanack & Kristi Smith Knutson win the prestigious Jefferson Award

2009: Expanding to our 4th location in sunny San Diego, The Princess Project served 3,384 in 2009! Every event had an overwhelming turnout of enthusiastic girls and volunteers...all ready to shop for a prom dress! Our organization was the recipient of Google Grants to help increase our girl outreach.

The Princes Project and Gown Town are two of many great organizations that work to provide girls with free prom dresses. Please donate any dresses that you have in your home that are not being used. A free dress is all that some girls need to have a great prom!

If you are not in the San Diego area, check out these other California locations that accept donations of dresses to assist young women in need.

All Dressed Up
Location: Inland Empire
Telephone: 909-945-5683
Contact: Shantel Del Rosario and Trisha Markos
E-mail: alldressedupforchrist@yahoo.com
Website: http://mysite.verizon.net/resx0t6w/

Becca's Closet
Locations: Modesto, Tracy
Website: www.beccascloset.org

Cinderella's Closet at California State University
Location: Chico
Telephone: 530-898-5396
Contact: Connie Huyck
E-mail: chuyck@csuchico.edu

Cinderella's Closet on the Ridge
Location: Paradise and Magalia
Telephone: 530-877-2192
Contact: Mary-Ellen Reed
E-mail: menu369-donatemydress@yahoo.com

LA's Prom Closet
Location: Los Angeles
Telephone: 866-475-0082
Contact: Natalie Torres
E-mail: laspromcloset@yahoo.comlaspromcloset@yahoo.com
Website: www.laspromcloset.com

The Princess Project
Location: San Francisco Bay Area and San Diego
E-mail: info@princessproject.org
Website: www.princessproject.org

Operation Prom
Location: Santa Barbara
Telephone: 805-898-1967
Contact: Meredith Scott
Website: www.assistanceleaguesb.org/

The Couture Girl's Closet
Location: Temecula
Telephone: 951-699-5758
Contact: Tracy MacKellar
E-mail: thecouturegirlscloset@msn.com
Website: www.thecouturegirlscloset.com

Vista High School Dress Drive
Location: Vista / North County Area
Telephone: 760-726-5611 ext. 71601
E-mail: vhsdressdrive@yahoo.com

Working Wardrobes
Location: Orange and LA counties
Telephone: 714-210-2460
Contact: Heather Wagner
E-mail: HeatherW@WorkingWardrobes.org
Website: www.workingwardrobes.org

For free prom dress donation organizations in other states, go to http://www.donatemydress.org/donate.html

Find a Perfect Prom Dress for Free

http://www.fox5sandiego.com/news/kswb-gown-town,0,3668493.story

Free Prom Dresses. Star 94.1 Gown Town on Twitter

http://twitter.com/Star941FREE/statuses/13044173950

Donate my Dress

http://www.donatemydress.org/donate.html

Prom and Free Prom Dress Charities on Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charitable_prom_organizations