Group provides prom dresses for teens

For high school girls, prom is a time of year when special moments are supposed to happen. JoAnn Trchalek, founder of the Giving Gown Foundation, does her best to help bring those moments to life.

The Giving Gown Foundation—established in 2007—is a nonprofit organization aimed at providing high school juniors and seniors with prom dresses and accessories such as shoes, handbags and jewelry. It collects new and like-new donations throughout the year and gives them away at the annual two-day event, Boutique Day, which takes place in the spring.

The group's main goal is to let young girls know they are cared for, Trchalek said.

"It's not just about the dresses," she said. "It's about the whole experience. It's about self-esteem and giving these girls something to be excited about."

This year, the fifth annual Boutique Day was held March 30–31 at the Bammel Church of Christ Teen Center in Houston.

In order to take part, girls have to be enrolled in high school and able to attend prom. No financial information is needed and the only personal information the group collects are names, addresses, dress size and shoe size. The organization is based in Pinehurst, but does not cater to any particular school districts.

"We want to promote the idea that all girls deserve support and love regardless of their financial or family circumstances," Trchalek said.

Giving Gown enlists the help of 200–300 volunteers, according to Trchalek, which are referred to as "fairy godmothers." All year long, volunteers are collecting and sorting donations in preparation for the big event.

On Boutique Day, volunteers work with girls one-on-one to help them find the perfect dress. Other volunteers participate as seamstresses, performing hem and strap adjustments on site.

"We try to give them the same feeling they would have walking into a high-end boutique," Trchalek said. "The focus is on them, and all their needs are taken care of."

Trchalek said she receives about 1,000 donations each year through dress drive events, local businesses—such as Dahlia's Boutique and N-Style Hair Salon—and from individual donors.

Giving Gown assists about 500 girls each year, Trchalek said.

"The girls are so excited and so thankful," she said. "It's really neat to know that you are giving them an experience they truly cherish."

How to help

• Donate new or like-new dresses, shoes, handbags, jewelry, wraps or shawls to one of the drop-off locations listed on the foundation's website
• Volunteer as an individual collecting and sorting dresses, organizing dress drives and helping at events
• Volunteer as a business by collecting dresses, sponsoring events, providing storage or donating goods or services

The Giving Gown Foundation, 832-381-6565, www.givinggown.org