The Enchanted Closet, a volunteer-run nonprofit organization serving teenage girls from low-income households across metro Atlanta, will host its 11th Annual Prom Dress Giveaway Finale tomorrow, Saturday, March 30 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University, 80 Forsyth Street N.W., Atlanta, 30303.
The Prom Dress Giveaway Finale will include appearances by R&B Divas star, Nicci Gilbert-Daniels; R&B Divas personality, Brandy Gilbert; and 11Alive News Traffic Reporter and Enchanted Closet’s Celebrity Spokesperson of six years, Elle Duncan.
A writer, director and producer, Nicci Gilbert-Daniels is a fifteen-year entertainment industry veteran. She currently stars in the hit TV One series, R&B Divas Atlanta with Faith Evans, Monifah Carter, Syleena Johnson, and Keke Wyatt, with its second season premiere set for Wednesday, May 1. Adopted at a young age, she desires to be a source of inspiration and strength for young people. As such, she has established a foundation with her mother, Divas and Wildflowers. Nicci and Brandy will sign autographs, take pictures and donate several dresses to the Enchanted Closet.
Born and raised in Atlanta, Elle Duncan is a television and radio personality. She is currently the traffic reporter for 11Alive News in the morning. Prior to this appointment, she was an on-air personality for eight years on the People’s Station, V-103. More than 200 businesses and individuals began supporting the Enchanted Closet through Elle’s solicitation efforts, and recently over 100 dresses and other items were donated after the airing of a feature story she developed.
During the Prom Dress Giveaway, the Enchanted Closet offers a boutique-style setting and provides personal shoppers – people who are volunteers – to help each girl choose that perfect dress, accessories and makeup for their special night. The Enchanted Closet’s Prom Dress Giveaway began in 2003 as a project to provide prom dresses to teenage girls whose families were financially challenged. To date, the Enchanted Closet has outfitted more than 4,000 girls for special occasions. Having already outfitted nearly 100 girls on March 16, the Enchanted Closet expects to outfit an additional 200 more girls on Saturday, March 30. BCG will also be on site to join in the festivities and if you are in the Atlanta area, we encourage you to stop by and meet us!
The Enchanted Closet will also be collecting donations of prom attire for future Prom Dress Giveaway events. Items in need include: New or gently used formal dresses that are clean, in good condition and teen appropriate – especially sizes 14 and above; prom accessories such as jewelry, handbags, wraps and shoes and gift certificates to restaurants, florists, limos, and hair and nail salons. In addition, donation drop-off points are located throughout the metro Atlanta area and are listed on www.enchantedcloset.org.
“The Enchanted Closet believes that no girl should miss out on the chance to attend her high school prom simply because she could not afford a dress,” said Bonita Johnson, Enchanted Closet President and CEO. “Since many teenagers today are being raised by single parents, grandparents and others on a fixed income, prom season can be extremely stressful. With the Atlanta community’s support, the Enchanted Closet provides a solution to help girls experience this special rite of passage.”
Enchanted Closet encourages girls to be smart shoppers by providing them an opportunity to get beautiful gowns for $10, a handling fee that helps to offset the costs of dry-cleaning, alterations, and set-up. Accessories are available on a limited basis, including jewelry, wraps, and shoes. Registration for the Prom Dress Giveaway for interested girls and volunteers and additional information is now available on www.enchantedcloset.org.
