It is my vision to see the number of high school drop outs and teen pregnancies decreased in the state of Connecticut. I started a community program "Project Hope CT", which organizes events that promote positive academic outcomes for high school students. Many of the high school senior girls in New Haven, Hartford and lower Fairfield County, are impoverished, and during their senior year of high school their families can not afford to purchase prom dresses for senior prom. With Project Dream Dress, I am able to provide free gently used donated prom dresses, shoes and accessories to high school seniors, as well as free salon services which are donated from local salons. (Prepping for the event starts at 9am and the event begins at 12pm and runs until 5pm. We have over 50 volunteers that help to make this possible. This years event will be held on April 27, 2013)

For most of these girls, this is the first time that they have ever dressed up or ever visited a hair salon. It is fulfilling to see the joy on their faces as they celebrate one of their greatest accomplishments in life; graduating from high school and being able to attend their senior prom without worrying about the cost associated with it. Graduating from high school is not the norm for many inner city youth, they are faced with many hardships at such young ages, and sometimes are forced to drop out of school, and never attend college.

It inspires me to acknowledge high school seniors for persevering and being victorious in the face of adversity. Being able to provide these free dresses and free salon services empowers these girls to know that someone sees their hard work, and it also inspires them to go out and accomplish more in life.

That is what Project Hope CT is all about, providing youth with the hope, support, and resources they need to achieve more academically and in life.

(Thank you in advance for your consideration to support Project Dream Dress.)