Volunteers from the Assistance League of Los Angeles will partner again with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) today for Operation School Bell Prom Day, an annual event providing prom dresses, shoes and accessories to 85 homeless and low-income LAUSD high school girls. 85 teenage girls, selected from 18 schools in the LAUSD, will have the chance to step into a “pop-up” boutique and choose their ideal prom dress –with jewelry and shoes to match– at no cost. The girls will also receive image guidance from style volunteers, who will assist them to pick out the perfect “look” for their dream prom night.
This year’s “dressing” will be held at Emerson College. 26 volunteers from Hancock Park’s NGA, many of whom are also members of the Assistance League, including Juliet Brumlik, Shelagh Callahan, Jan Daley, Kiel Fitzgerlad, Flo Fowkes, Patty Hill, Cathryne Macievic and Marion Plato will be among those on hand to help out. The girls selected are maintaining their grades and attending classes, while simultaneously surviving very difficult experiences, including homelessness. OSB Prom Day makes selecting a dress and accessories for prom possible, and is a special day for these young women, who are encouraged by the gift of improved self-esteem to graduate with confidence.
Operation School Bell (OSB) provides new school clothes, shoes, backpacks and school supplies to nearly 5,000 underserved and at-risk children within the Los Angeles Unified School District. By delivering these resources to the city’s most vulnerable children, OSB improves school attendance, promotes learning and offers students a greater chance to succeed.
The Assistance League of Los Angeles Assistance League of Los Angeles was formed in 1919, when a group of 13 women organized to provide food and clothing for families adversely affected by World War I. For more than 97 years, the League has continued to improve the quality of life for disadvantaged youth in Los Angeles. The League’s programs remove barriers to education for thousands of underserved and impoverished Los Angeles youth, providing education, shoes, clothing, books and an introduction to the arts. For more information, visit www.assistanceleaguela.org.
