Less Fortunate Girls Get Free Dresses for Prom

Pink tulle, glitter and high heels aren’t something you see in everyday- that is unless it is for the “Princess Project.”

The first annual Princess Project was organized and hosted by the Long Island Night Alumnae Association of Delta Gamma Fraternity on Saturday at the EMFD headquarters on East Meadow Avenue. For a four-hour period, local high school girls were invited to come and try on a variety of prom dress, all of which were free of charge.

“There are a lot of girls that need dresses that don’t really have the funds to get a beautiful dress,” said Kimberly Papa Salvesen of East Meadow, who is the vice president of membership for the alumnae group.

Salvesen explained that she had heard of one of the fraternity vice presidents doing a similar affair in Indianapolis and  she thought that this would be a great thing to do on Long Island.

Working for several months organizing this charity event, the members of the organization collected approximately 130 dresses for the occasion. They got the items from co-workers, family, friends and through an annual luncheon. Dresses were available in both cocktail and full lengths, with sizes ranging anywhere from small to extra large and any high school girl was welcome to come and try on some of the options. They also had an assortment of accessories and shoes available for the girls to take along with the dresses.

“It was convenient,” said Salvesen in regard to why they chose to do the event at the firehouse. “They have been really great about letting us use the space.”

Ariel Aguido, 15 and from Huntington, attended the event with her mother, her cousin and a friend. Aguido said she came to find a dress because “she could never really get one.” She added that it is a really great thing for the organization to do for local girls and is planning on coming back next year as well.

“They have a lot of nice dresses to choose from,” Aguido said.

“Thank goodness for the sorority sister who told us about this,” said Aguido’s mother Monique. “We are very grateful.”

Delta Gamma Fraternity is actually a sorority with chapters at Hofstra and Adelphi University. The local alumnae association does a lot of work with the collegiate chapters to engage them in community work and philanthropy.

Rockville Centre resident Arlene Nolan, who is the vice president of programming for Long Island Night Alumnae Association of Delta Gamma, focused on the details of the Princess Project. She brought special sashes and tiaras for all of the members to wear.

“I make sure that the events are fun and appropriate for the girls that have graduated college so that we can say ‘yes, you do continue your volunteer work.’ There is still a need to help people all over,” Nolan said. “Our motto is ‘do good’ – that is why we are DG. We want girls to have the mindset in college to start, if they haven’t done it with their family, to do something for others.”

Vice President of Foundation Debby Maerhofer, of Valley Stream, said that it is important for the younger girls to begin realizing that there is a world of people who are very needy.

“We come together for a common goal and that is to give to others who may have not had the opportunities that we have had,” Maerhofer added.

The organization is hoping to put on the same event next year in order to continue in assisting girls in getting the prom dress of their dreams.

“With the economy as it is, we need to really help those who can’t,” Nolan said. “Sometimes they don’t ask, so if we show something that is possibility and is free it is something that they would participate in. It is a good thing for them to come and do. We feel good about doing it.”