A wish come true for girls lacking prom dresses

By Diana Whittle

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Donate a new or gently used dress by Friday,
April 25, and you’ll help volunteers with the
Kyrene Foundation outfit an eighth-grade girl
in style for her promotion ceremony—and make a
“wish come true.”
This marks the fourth year for the Wish Come
True dress drive, which invites a select group of
Kyrene students to shop for a gown of their choice.
Over the past three years, donations rose
steadily, which allowed more girls to be served.
Last year, 85 girls participated, with more than 300
dresses to select from.
“We reach out to girls who may be on our
Family Resource list to come to the ‘Wish Come
True’ event,” said the project’s coordinator, Amanda
Nosbisch.
“These are families who otherwise might not be
able to afford a new dress for their child’s upcoming
graduation event and the dance following it.”
Throughout the year, the Kyrene Foundation
assists local families in need at the district’s Family
Resource Center, located on the campus of Kyrene de
los Niños Elementary School, 1330 E. Dava Drive.
The center represents a joint effort between the
Kyrene School District and the foundation. It offers
needy families access to resources to meet their
basic needs—food, clothing, shelter, medical or legal
support, resource referrals, scholarships and afterschool
programs.
For the “Wish” event, staff at the resource
center warehouse built racks to properly showcase
the donated dresses. Foundation volunteers serve
refreshments to families and, for the girls, create
a special shopping environment where they can
look over the dresses, try them on—even select
accessories, including jewelry or shoes.
“Our event is a great experience for the girls.
We have hair and make-up stylists available for a
complete beauty make-over,” said Nosbisch.
“We want the girls who participate to feel
excited and pampered.”
Nosbisch particularly credits the dedication of
the volunteers and the generosity of the community
for making this program a success, in particular Lisa
Gibson, the principal at C.J. Waggoner Elementary,
who gathers make-up, nail polish and other items to
give to the participants.
“For the last two years, she has personally
made individual goodie bags for all the girls,” said
Nosbisch.
Other volunteers come to the special event to
guide the girls through the experience and to help
them to select the perfect dress. If they don’t happen
to find one that fits, they will be given a gift card to
shop on their own.”
After the graduation fun is over, families are
asked to return the dress in good condition for
another family to use next year.
“It’s a wonderful event for everyone involved,
and we really appreciate the support we have
received,” said Nosbisch.
Dresses may be dropped off at the Family
Resource Center; the Kyrene District Office, 8700 S.
Kyrene Road; or at Kyrene Middle School, 1050 E
Carver Road.
For more information on volunteering for the
event, contact Amanda Nosbisch in the Community
Education and Outreach Services Department at
480-541-1500.

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