Media Advisory/Photo Opportunity: The Corsage Project makes prom possible for hundreds of deserving students
Graduates who attend the Corsage Project's Boutique Ball will be outfitted for their prom free of charge.
TORONTO, April 12, 2018 /CNW/ - On Sunday, April 22, the Corsage Project will host its 18th annual Boutique Ball for hundreds of young women graduating from high schools across Toronto. With a common purpose to alleviate the financial burden of prom, the Boutique Ball is free of charge and available through confidential referrals.
The estimated average cost of prom is as high as $800 and naturally stands in the way of many graduates celebrating this important milestone. After juggling classes, homework, extracurricular activities and part-time jobs, many young people and their families simply cannot afford the added stress of financing their prom.
"It is an honour to be a part of such pivotal occasion in these young adults' lives," says Sarah Tuite, Corsage Project Co-Chair. "We are proud to support these remarkable young women and ensure that they stand proudly among their peers while celebrating a well-deserved achievement, regardless of financial circumstances."
Founded in 2000 by Carole Atkins and Rhona Sallay, the Corsage Project was born after the founders saw firsthand the unnecessary financial pressure attending prom put on vulnerable students .The Corsage Project operates in partnership with the Children's Aid Foundation of Canada.
"Over our 18 years we have witnessed thousands of graduates transform in confidence because of Carole and Rhona's dream that no student should ever be denied celebrating graduation because of the high cost," says Joanne Sallay, Corsage Project Co-Chair.
At the Boutique Ball, participants are greeted by enthusiastic and passionate volunteer personal shoppers for a very special day selecting the perfect dress, shoes and jewellery to prepare them for the complete prom experience. Corporate sponsors provide Corsage Project with racks of dresses, hundreds of shoes and a vast selection of sparkling jewellery for participants to choose from.
The event brings together and inspires women of all ages and has a lasting impact for everyone in attendance. Several young women who were once helped by the Corsage Project even return as volunteers in the years following.
"My first experience with Corsage Project was in 2014 as a graduate overwhelmed at the thought of attending my own prom," says Thurika Kiriharan, a former Corsage Girl. "The confidence, joy and fulfillment it gave me is what keeps me motivated to keep volunteering and share that with other young graduates today."
Who:
- Select Corsage Project participants who have agreed to share their story with media
- Corsage Project spokespeople and volunteers
Where:
- Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street
- Bram & Bluma Appel Salon (second floor)
When:
- Sunday, April 22
- 9:30am
What:
- A team of more than 600 volunteers create a shopping bazaar with hundreds of new dresses, shoes, purses, pashminas and jewellery for 250 young women from local high schools
- Formal attire and accessories that have been donated by retailers and the local fashion community
- Interviews with select Corsage Project participants
- Interviews with Corsage Project spokespeople and volunteers
- Note: To respect the privacy of many of our participants, please photograph, film and interview only those girls who have agreed to speak with the media. Volunteers will be on hand to ensure these young women are easily identifiable and available for interviews.
About the Corsage Project
Working in partnership with the Children's Aid Foundation of Canada, the Corsage Project is a non-profit program in Toronto dedicated to giving the authentic prom experience to young adults who would not otherwise have the opportunity to celebrate with their peers due to the high cost of formal wear. Our scholarship program through the Children's Aid Foundation of Canada also helps local high school graduates achieve their post-secondary goals. www.corsageproject.ca
SOURCE Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada
For more information, photos or to schedule an interview, please contact Halo PR: Fatima Reyes, [email protected], 416.364.0404 or 647.522.7119; Tara Anderson, [email protected], 416.364.0404 or 647.997.9704
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