Girls Get A Good, Glammed-Up Deal In The Gables

BY CHRISTINA LOREN | CBS 4
CLoren@cbs.com

A number of young women are more excited than ever about what sometimes is seen as a right of passage in high school: prom. Tuesday, sixty local girls were given the Fairy Godmother treatment when it comes to prom dresses, accessories and shoes – all thanks to the generosity of South Floridians.

The cost of fabulous formal attire and accessories for prom can be hard on a high school budget. Mentors from Women of Tomorrow teamed up with the Village of Merrick Park, acquiring more than 400 gently-used prom dresses for local girls, who may not have otherwise been able to afford the big dance.

"Now I don't have to spend so much money on a prom dress that most people spend like a thousand dollars on," high school senior Claudia Ruiz told CBS4's Christina Loren. Experts were on hand to teach make-up tips; in order to glitz up their glamorous gowns, the girls had a chance to pick out matching heels and hand bags. "It is all about the dress and the make-up and accessorizing," said Maria Llorca of the Village of Merrick Park.

"You've got to feel like a princess that night." "Nowadays, students don't realize that that's a moment you can never go back to again," explained Women of Tomorrow mentor Alina Feldman. Some of the dresses still have the tags on them, and others have seen better decades, but they can be taken in and made current. The important part was confirmed by everybody at the event: they're all excited now for the big dance.