Nearly every woman has one: That beautiful formal or cocktail dress that she’s worn once, maybe twice, but now it hangs forlornly in the closet.
It’s still stylish, but she doesn’t want to wear it year after year to that same holiday party or fundraiser. Or maybe she’s “grown out of it,” so to speak.
The Cinderella Affair gives new life to those gowns. The Tempe-based program collects gently worn party dresses, shoes and accessories and donates them to high school juniors or seniors throughout the Valley to wear to prom. Girls in the Tempe Unified School District get first pick.
“The rule of thumb is that they have to be in good condition and they have to be modern,” said Amy Grossklaus, co-chair of the Cinderella Affair. “We don’t put anything on the floor that we feel is dated.”
All sizes, colors and styles are represented, and girls pay nothing. They even get a voucher for free dry cleaning if the dress needs it.
The Cinderella Affair started in 2002 as a collaboration between the East Valley Women’s League, a community service group, and the Tempe Community Council, a nonprofit working with the city and community groups. In past years, they gave away dresses to about 400 girls, but last year, thanks to a flurry of publicity, they were able to give more than 1,100 dresses.
This year, Cinderella Affair hopes to serve about the same number of girls, who will be able to choose from more than 2,000 dresses. Here is how it works:
Collection boxes are placed at sites around the Valley from Feb. 8-21, including several high schools and businesses in the Kyrene Corridor. The list of locations is online at www.cinderellaaffair.org.
Volunteers sort and organize the dresses and accessories.
Dress selection is open from 3-8 p.m. March 26 and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. March 27 at the Pyle Adult Recreation Center. Only Tempe Unified High School students are allowed in on March 26. On March 27, it’s open to any junior or senior with a valid high school I.D.
Volunteers age 21 and up help girls select a dress. Girls can try on five dresses, and if none fit the bill, they can choose up to three more.
Last year, Lexi Raymond, 18, who was then a senior at Corona del Sol, volunteered to organize and sort dresses before the event, and in return, was able to get first pick of dresses.
“We untied all the bags, separated the dresses, helped set up dressing areas, (and) organized shoes, purses, necklaces,” she said. “A lot of them were designer dresses. Some of them even still had the tags on them.”
For herself, she chose a handmade silky black dress with a maroon tint.
“It was the cutest thing ever,” Raymond said. “It was awesome. No one else had that dress.”
The only caveat, Grossklaus said, is that girls need to be patient. Last year, the line snaked down the sidewalk of Southern Avenue as girls waited their turn.
BOX
The Cinderella Affair
Where: Collection boxes Valleywide, including Compadre, Corona del Sol, Marcos de Niza and McClintock high schools and several other sites in the Kyrene Corridor. Dress selection is at the Pyle Adult Recreation Center, 655 E. Southern Ave., Tempe.
When: Collection runs Feb. 8-21. Dress selection is 3-8 p.m. March 26 (Tempe Unified High School juniors and seniors only) and March 27 (open to any high school junior or senior with valid I.D.)
Cost: Free.
Information: www.cinderellaaffair.org (click on “Donations” for collection sites) or 480-858-2300.
