Fairy Godmother Project organizers, from left, Heather Skaar, Merideth Cooper, MBA, Amy Doyle, MBA, Laura Zimmerman, R.N., and Beth Glascock, MBA. (photo by Susan Urmy)
‘Fairy Godmothers’ gather dresses to make prom possible
Five Vanderbilt Orthopaedic Institute administrators have come together to launch the Fairy Godmother Project of Music City.
This grassroots organization was developed to assist students in Nashville and the surrounding area who are unable to purchase their own prom attire and is modeled after a similar program in Houston.
The group has been collecting prom dresses for several weeks in preparation for its first annual Prom Dress Boutique Day on March 27 at Chappy's on Church restaurant in Nashville.
There will be more than 300 dresses, along with jewelry, shoes, bags and makeup, available to high school juniors and seniors.
“We had heard through some of our athletic trainers in the high schools that it is common for families to borrow money or charge on credit for their daughters to be dressed for their proms,” said Laura Zimmerman, R.N., assistant administrator and one of the projects' co-founders.
“Many of our dresses are from stores with tags still on and the others have been very gently used and are lovely. If buying a dress overextends your budget, this is a very good alternative.”
Students can sign up for the Prom Dress Boutique Day by visiting: www.fairygodmotherprojectofmusiccity.com. They must bring proof of enrollment to receive prom attire.
In future years, the Fairy Godmother Project of Music City hopes to grow through the support of community members and businesses who can donate their time and resources by cleaning out their closets, spearheading dress drives and assisting students at the shopping day.