One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
85 disadvantaged LAUSD high school girls get royal treatment for prom
File: Students pose for pictures at a gathering before they travel on a bus to the school prom on July 1, 2011 in Newcastle, United Kingdom.
(
Bethany Clarke/Getty Images
)
Maricruz shows off the black prom gown she selected on Prom Day sponsored by Operation School Bell.
(
Courtesy of Monica Carazo
)
Sally from John F. Kennedy High School gets her hair done on prom day during her prom day makeover.
(
Courtesy of Monica Carazo
)
Veronica attends Marquez High School and tries on a violet gown on Prom Day sponsored by Operation School Bell.
(
Courtesy of Monica Carazo
)
A fairy-tale wish came true Thursday for dozens of disadvantaged high school girls: They had the opportunity to handpick their prom ensemble for free.
Made possible by the Assistance League of Los Angeles' collaboration with the L.A. Unified School District, Operation School Bell dressed 85 homeless and low-income girls from head to toe in prom outfits on Thursday. From donated dresses to shoes and makeup, the girls were treated like queens from the moment they walked into the pop-up shop at Emerson College L.A., according to LAUSD spokeswoman Monica Carazo.
"Operation School Bell does a wonderful job of getting these donations throughout the year, and they're beautiful high-end, high-quality dresses," Carazo told KPCC. "I know last year they even had some dresses that were worn at the Academy Award shows."
Carazo said that when the girls walked in, they were assigned a personal image consultant who helped them weigh important options: glitter, short, long, slit, no-slit, lace, ruffles, etc. Then they went on to select jewelry, shoes and accessories. Volunteer tailors did dress fittings, and they were treated to makeovers complete with hair and makeup.
The girls chosen to participate in the program are selected by their high school counselor, with their GPA and attendance as deciding factors, Carazo said. She said the program has clothed hundreds of girls for prom over the past five years, and each year gets bigger.
In addition to putting girls in dresses for prom, Operation School Bell works to provide new school clothes, play clothes, shoes, backpacks, hygiene products, books and school supplies to K-5 school kids, according to an LAUSD press release.
Sponsored message
To donate gently-used items for LAUSD students, visit the Assistance League L.A. website.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
