Register now! Free prom dress event coming March 2 to Raleigh
Register now for a free prom dress event coming March 2 to Raleigh!
The 2024 Say Yes to the Prom Dress event will be held Saturday, March 2, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Raleigh's Tarboro Road Community Center, 121 N. Tarboro St.
Last year, the inaugural Say Yes to the Prom Dress event provided free dresses for 110 high school students -- but dozens of dresses were leftover. With a new, bigger space and more dresses, Jennifer Payne, the founder of the I Am Worth It Foundation, hopes to reach many more students this year.
This year, the I Am Worth It Foundation, a scholarship fund, has partnered with SAGE (Saving Adolescent Girls Everywhere), to reach more high schoolers. The nonprofit, founded in 2018, serves girls in southeast Raleigh and other communities with educational programs, social events and more.
View the Amazon wishlist for the event
Say Yes to the Prom Dress will feature DJ music, a 360-degree photo booth, drinks, snacks and prom-related raffle prizes, including facials, nails, permanent jewelry, spray tans and more.
"It's exciting to be able to come together to create this prom experience for girls," Tatiana Cooper, founder of SAGE, said.
Last year there were more dresses than participants, so organizers need help spreading the word to local high schools about the free prom dress event. Any high school student who could benefit from a new prom dress is welcome to attend.
"Last year we had more dresses available then we had attendees, so this year with a larger space and expanded hours, we'd love to reach as many as possible," Payne said.
Since the event will be held in a gym at the Tarboro Road Community Center, there will be room for more participants -- and for more fun.
Hundreds of prom dresses in sizes and styles for all bodies will be on display for attendees to try on in individual, pop-up dressing rooms.
Parents, friends and partners are invited to accompany their high school students looking for a dress.
"There's absolutely no limit," Payne said. "We encourage them to bring anybody they have by their side who they want to share that experience with."
Say Yes to the Prom Dress depends on help from community sponsors, like businesses willing to dry clean the dresses or provide raffle prizes and nibbles.
The greatest needs for the 2024 event include:
- Sturdy clothing racks for the dresses
- Portable changing rooms
- Prom-related raffle prizes
- Donations of bite-sized desserts, snacks
- Gently-used or new prom dresses
Amazon wishlist and prom dress drop off
Prom dresses can be dropped off at the locations listed below. There's also an Amazon wishlist for the most needed items, like clothing racks.
Burn Boot Camp, 158 W. Holly Springs Road, Holly Springs
Monday - Friday between 5 a.m. and 11 a.m. or 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Saturday between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m.
St. John's MCC, 4 N. Blount St., Raleigh
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Thursday between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Sunday between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Personal home: 224 Virginia Water Drive, Rolesville
Drop off on porch 24/7
North Raleigh/Bedford/Falls River Area
Text 919-673-6584 to coordinate drop off
Ross Landing in Clayton
Text 919-928-3978 to arrange drop off
