Princess Prom Project
(HAMILTON TWP.) – The 14th District “Princess Prom Project” has now been underway for more than ten years in a row aimed at providing high school girls with a special gown for that memorable night celebrated in their youth. The program, which was launched by the office of Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo in the Spring of 2011, strives to make sure that young ladies do not miss out on attending their junior or senior high school proms because formal dresses can sometimes be too expensive.
"Every year, it is heart-warming to see the joy that can be felt by a young lady who finds that perfect dress for the extremely special event in their youth. Thanks to the generosity of families donating new or gently worn dresses to the Princess Prom Project, the dress collection continues to be full of fantastic dresses each and every year. The collaboration with youth-service and community outreach agencies plus local word of mouth has continued to make this program a great success to provide for the young ladies in our District," said DeAngelo (D-Hamilton.)
Ladies looking for their formal dress browse through the large collection of dresses – that are provided at no cost to them -- during a “shopping party” at the District Outreach Center or by appointment.
Anyone who is willing to support the Princess Prom Project can do so by donating a formal or cocktail gown hanging in their closet that will not be used again. These dresses can be brought to the 14th Legislative District Outreach Center (located at the Shoppes at Nottingham Pointe) to include in the “dress collection.” Dresses that are in good condition and previously cleaned will be accepted regardless of their size. Accessories such as purses and jewelry also are accepted to help complete the perfect prom ensemble.
“Throughout the year, but particularly during the spring, families continue to support the problem by opening their hearts and their closets to constantly refresh the collection of hundreds of dresses and accessories to complete their look,” said DeAngelo.
“The Princess Prom Project continues to be a great avenue for families who want their daughters to have that once in a lifetime experience without the that price tag becoming overwhelming for families living on tight household,” DeAngelo added. “As a father who has watched my two daughters beam with excitement as they went off to their formals and proms, I know how important it is as a parent to make sure their teenager feels that they look their best for those special events.”
Gently worn formal or cocktail dresses can be donated at the 14th Legislative District Outreach Center located at 4621A Nottingham Way in Hamilton Township. Appointments to look for dresses can be made by calling the 14th Legislative District Outreach office at (609) 631-7501 or emailing at AsmDeAngelo@njleg.org.
The Princess Prom Project is open to high school girls who live in the 14th District which consists of Hamilton Township, East Windsor, Hightstown, Robbinsville, Monroe Township, Jamesburg, Plainsboro, Spotswood and Cranbury.