Once a year magic happens, not at Bloomingdales or Saks, but in a private space where the Princess Project opens its doors to area teens. The Princess Project dresses them for the night they'll never forget, and for a moment in time that is captured on film and etched in memories. Jennifer Gaston of the Princess Project says she volunteers for the gratification and confidence she sees in the teens she serves. "They come into our shop, expecting old used dresses and then realize that we have by far the best selection in town. We treat every teen like a princess (they get a personal shopper that helps find them a dress that makes them smile and feel great), so when they leave our boutique they not only have received a free dress and an accessory but a big self-esteem boost!"
The Princess Project began in San Francisco sixteen years ago. There are now five chapters throughout California. In San Diego alone, the project has served 8,700 teens in nine years. The Princess Project is a 100% led volunteer organization. It's all hands on deck, from the people who donate dresses, to the volunteer personal shoppers, leaders and managers. Horton Plaza even donates a space to store the dresses throughout the year.
So What Styles of Dresses Can You Find at the Princess Project?
According to Karen Martin Spellberg Co-Chair of the Princess Project "We get all kinds of dresses...however the ones we keep for our giveaways are fancy party dresses, prom dresses and most styles of bridesmaid dresses. The leftover dresses we sell quarterly at a fundraiser for $5.00 each. So either way, your donated dresses will go to a good cause."
Want to Help?
Visit www.princessprojectsd.org
Dress giveaways in San Diego start Mid-April, book a "get a dress" appointment in San Diego County after March 1st at www.princessprojectSD.org
