Wish Upon A Prom Celebrates Five Year Anniversary
Formal Wear Donations And Co Sponsor Sought For Charity Kings May 10 Giveaway Event
Wish Upon a Prom is celebrating five years of outfitting teens for the rites of passage event that can run families upwards of $600.
Each May, the local nonprofit transforms Harold Daley VFW Post No. 1333 on Lake Avenue into a formalwear fashion house venue. The one-day event allows teens to pick not only their dresses and tuxedos or suits but also offers them an array of accoutrements – shoes, jewelry, handbags, and makeup.
“I wanted to do something to help relieve the stress for many families,” Event Coordinator Sherrice Lyles has said. “When I moved to this community, I wanted to give back. And since I grew up with six brothers and sisters and had to work while I went to high school, I understood what many in the community were facing.”
What started as a grassroots effort to outfit local teens has grown into an endeavor that serves over 1,500 girls and boys from across the New Jersey and parts of the tri state region, Lyles said. The event is sponsored by Charity Kings, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works year round to support students in need. Their events also include an annual Family Day, Gospel Fest, Back to School Supply and Clothing Giveaway, and Santa’s Toy Shoppe.
This year’s Wish Upon a Prom will be held on May 10, Lyles said.
“We anticipate that many more students will take advantage of this year’s program,” she said in a written statement. It if for that reason the fundraising period is getting an early start.
Along with any dress, tuxedo and/or suit donations, the group will accept handbags, shoes, ties, makeup and other cosmetics, gift bags, decorations, and other accessories. They are also looking for donated prizes to place in swag bags.
Monetary donations will be accepted and, due to the program’s success, the event organizers say they will seek a co sponsor.
For more information, email sherrice.lyles@gmail.com or visit charitykingsinc.yolasite.com and via Twitter @wishuponaprom.
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