Within days of founding WGIRLS Coastal Long Island, members dove right into their first annual fundraiser, Project G.L.A.M.
Project Granting Lasting Amazing Memories (G.L.A.M.), is a yearly effort to provide underprivileged girls with prom dresses and accessories so that they are able to attend and enjoy their high school prom. As prom night has become quite an expense, these girls never even consider attending their own prom to be an option.
Prom is not only a right of passage for a young woman, but it is a celebration of the dedication that she set forth to graduate. One of our goals as WGIRLS is to serve as mentors to young women in the local community who are disadvantaged and provide them with guidance and assurance that their dreams are within reach. Despite the many struggles to graduate high school, Project G.L.A.M. operates to grant confidence to young women, show them a path of opportunity, and afford them with memories to last a lifetime.
-Joanna Konopka, Previous President, WGIRLS Coastal Long Island
Working with WGIRLS Coastal LI, the Long Island community helped make Project G.L.A.M. a success. Boutiques generously donated new dresses for the girls; libraries served as drop off locations for gently worn dresses and accessories. Various Long Island patrons also held their own G.L.A.M. dress drives.
In addition to being dressed for prom, girls were generously pampered. The Body Shop provided products for the girls to take home and scheduled free makeup appointments. Paul Mitchell Cactus Academy took hair appointments and donated take-home product bags.
On April 20th, pre-screened high school students on Long Island traveled to Kings Park High School for our boutique-styled Project G.L.A.M. event. Here, girls walked in to see stunning gowns and accessories to try on and take home. Over 2,000 dresses were donated, ensuring everyone left with a dress in hand.
The most rewarding experience to come of Project G.L.A.M. is making the dreams of attending prom for deserving girls into a reality.
Though Project G.L.A.M. is focused on outfitting young women for prom, WGIRLS Coastal LI also helped young men at request to dress for their prom as well. We believe that all children, regardless of race, religion or financial situation, deserve the same opportunities.
Looking forward, giving back!
WGIRLS Coastal Long Island would like to thank the following community members, business owners, donors and volunteers who took part in the success of Project G.L.A.M:
Kings Park High School for donating boutique space, as well as their girls lacrosse team and boys track team for assistance with the setup and day-of support.
Resources for Dress Donations:
-Bridal Reflections of Massapequa
-Eva’s of Sayville
-JML Couture of New York City
-Laundry by Shelli Segal
-Nikki’s Dressing Room of Huntington Station
-Magic Moments Prom
-RSVP Tuxedo of Bay Shore
-Runway Couture of Bellmore
Centers for Dress Drives:
-Bethpage High School S.A.D.D. club for hosting their own dress drive
-Energy Fitness and Wellness of St. James
-Libraries: Hauppauge; Sayville; West Islip; Harborfields; Huntington; Port Jefferson Teen Center
-Various individual hosts for G.L.A.M. dress drives
Services and Products:
-Paul Mitchell Cactus Academy of Garden City
-The Body Shop
And to the few dozens of Project G.L.A.M. volunteers who donated their time to support WGIRLS Coastal LI and the deserving young women of our community.
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