Aggrostats

At 8:00 a.m. on the day of the Giveaway, students will begin to sign up for 30 minute shopping appointments on a first come, first served basis. Students are required to bring their high school ID, a current year report card or letter from their principal, teacher or guidance counselor as proof of school enrollment. Students should also be accompanied by a female parent or guardian over the age of 18. Students do not need to provide proof of financial need; eligibility for a free dress is on the honor system.

To ensure a respectful, organized shopping experience, each student is paired with a volunteer personal shopper who guides the student through The Cinderella Project’s dress inventory and helps her try on and select a dress. Students try on gowns in individual dressing rooms and view themselves in floor-length mirrors.

“As we begin our sixth year of service to the Greater Baton Rouge community, we are thrilled to partner with the Louisiana State Police to host our 2013 Dress Giveaway,” said Sarah Dupree, cofounder of The Cinderella Project. “Every young lady deserves to attend their high school prom and create memories that will last them a lifetime” stated Colonel Mike Edmonson, State Police Superintendent. “Louisiana State Police is proud to have the opportunity to join forces with The Cinderella Project to make that happen. Additionally, we have the opportunity to help educate these young ladies on various safety issues that can make an impact in their lives as they grow into women.”

The Cinderella Project anticipates approximately 600 students will attend the Giveaway. While they wait in line to enter the Dress Giveaway, they will have the opportunity to visit an “Empowerment Expo” of booths providing information on a range of relevant topics. To date, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana’s 2 Step Program, ExxonMobil, Louisiana State Police, the LSU Women’s Center and the YMCA of the Capital Area have been confirmed as exhibitors with efforts underway to identify additional participants.

“Education is the dress that never goes out of style” said Shelton Jones, cofounder of The Cinderella Project. “Hosting this year’s Empowerment Expo is part of our long-term goal of establishing The Cinderella Project as a trusted community resource, not only for free prom dresses, but also for information that will empower high school women to make smart choices about their future.”

The Cinderella Project was founded in 2008 as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and has chapters in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Monroe and Shreveport. The organization’s mission is to support young women statewide with resources that may not exist for them otherwise. The organization provides educational outreach and community-based projects that are designed to build confidence and self-esteem for young women. Since its founding, the all-volunteer organization has distributed approximately 3,600 prom dresses to students at 84 high schools in 18 parishes statewide. In addition, the Baton Rouge chapter hosted The Cinderella Project Leadership Academy, a college-prep workshop for 25 high school women at LSU October 25 to 27, 2012.

Corporate sponsors and in-kind supporters of the Baton Rouge chapter’s 2013 Dress Drive and Dress Giveaway include Appletree Storage, Baton Rouge Parents Magazine, Chatta Box Boutique, Guaranty Broadcasting, Head Over Heels, Junior League of Baton Rouge, Lamar Advertising, Louisiana State Police, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, St. James Episcopal Church, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Welsh’s Cleaners and the YMCA of the Capital Area.

Shelton Jones
The Cinderella Project
(225) 439-9700
sjones@cinderellaprojectbr.org

SGT JB Slaton
Louisiana State Police
Public Affairs Unit
Office: (225) 925-6202
jb.slaton@dps.la.gov
www.LSP.org
www.facebook.com/LouisianaStatePolice

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