It’s prom, a night most high school students will remember forever.
However, for some people, it is becoming increasingly difficult to get everything they need for prom, such as dresses and shoes.
That’s why the wedding dress gift at the Olympia Fields paves the way for students to feel like Cinderella and make their dreams come true.
A recent giveaway featured dresses in a variety of colors and sizes at the Chez Delali Salon and Spa, all of which were free.
Some girls, like 18-year-old Tatiana Joseph, came to pick up their Cinderella dresses. She and her mother, her Tian, had driven all the way from Aurora.
“It’s a special moment,” Tian said through tears.
Prom is a rite of passage, but some people, like Joseph, can’t afford it.
“The dresses we were looking at were all over 300, 500, so this is a big break for us.
The prom dress giveaway allowed Tatiana to enjoy dancing before graduating from Metea Valley High School.
“I’m going on a date,” she said, smiling in a mermaid-type fitted pink dress.
Adodo Robinson, owner and organizer of Chez Delali Salon and Spa, started giving gifts 11 years ago.
She said one of her customers told her how expensive proms were and gave her the idea to host an annual giveaway to give back to the community.
She said COVID stalled giveaways in 2020 and 2021, but now continues to help dozens of students.
“They came and found the dress and are glad they had the chance to go to prom because once they graduated from high school they realized they needed it to celebrate the closing of the chapter.”
“I want to thank you for doing this for all the girls who are lucky enough to get a dress like Tatiana today,” Tian said through tears.
Robinson said the next giveaway is scheduled for Saturday, March 25, and invites people to participate.
