More than 150 area teens were given the chance to sparkle at their Prom thanks to The Junior League of Tallahassee (JLT), which hosted Operation Prom Dress, one of its signature community projects, on Friday, March 4 and Saturday, March 5, 2011 at the GFWC Woman’s Club in Los Robles.

Operation Prom Dress (OPD) allowed young women in the Tallahassee community and surrounding areas to shop from over 1,377 dresses in a boutique-like atmosphere for a prom dress and accessories for FREE.  The young ladies of Gretchen Everhart, a school for exceptional students, attended a private shopping preview on Friday.

“Nothing compares to the excitement my students have during this event,” said Fran Simmons Preston, Teacher and OPD Co-chair. “They have so much fun shopping and trying on the dresses, preparing for one of the biggest events in their life, their prom.”

Saturday’s shopping event was open to all public high school students in the Big Bend area who may not be able to afford a prom dress. There were 79 Junior League of Tallahassee members that gave more than 800 hours of volunteer service to produce the event.

“Operation Prom Dress helps create a memory of a lifetime for the attendees, while building self-confidence,” said Betsy Couch, APR, President of the Junior League of Tallahassee. “Proceeds from our fundraisers, like Whale of a Sale and Jingle Jubilee, support important projects like Operation Prom Dress.”

OPD began during the 2001-2002 school year as an event for students of Gretchen Everhart. The event has since grown into a regional project serving hundreds of local teens. This year, JLT teamed up with the GFWC Woman’s Club of Tallahassee for the event. The Club donated its facility, dress racks, tables, chairs, linens, refreshments and decorations as well as volunteer time from members to help assist with the OPD event.

“The Woman’s Club has been volunteering service in Tallahassee for more than 100 years,” said Charlene Bevis Reese, Past President of the GFWC Woman’s Club of Tallahassee. “The historic clubhouse was built in 1927 and we share this legacy with our community through many projects, helping make our area a better place for all.”

Other in kind donations for the event were generously provided by: Narcissus; Karmanos Printing & Graphics; Bella Donna Shoes; A Country Dollar; Color Me Beautiful; Sephora; Aveda Institute of Tallahassee; Chelsea’s Salon; Haute Headz; Bloom Room and Costco.

Operation Prom Dress would not be a success without its sponsors and donations from the community. Dress, shoe and accessory donations from the public were accepted year round. Donation boxes were placed in the following local businesses throughout the community: Cole Couture; Karmanos Printing & Graphics;  Royal Nails; Women’s World; Narcissus Mix; Narcissus;  Tallahassee Democrat; Healthy Solutions Weight Loss; Forest Meadows;  Girl Scout Council Office; North Florida Financial; FSAE, Styles of Elegance;  Leparulo Properties; and the Guardian Ad Litem Office.