Dress Day for Prom Dreams

It was all about dresses, jewelry, accessories and shoes Tuesday as about 15 girls from Enumclaw High School gathered at Calvary Presbyterian Church to try on and put together the perfect outfit for this year's senior prom.

The girls were selected as part of Prom Dreams, a project that involves local support in helping to send Enumclaw High School seniors to their prom on June 2. Organizers work with representatives of the Enumclaw School District to identify students who would benefit most from the project. The girls who were interested in seeking help from Prom Dreams are then asked to fill out an application indicating basic needs as well as why they were looking for some help this year.

Speaking of local support, check out the long list of local individuals and businesses who have donated funding/supplies this year: Salon La Bell, , , , Polished, The Cottage, Sheer Goddess, , Tami Grager, Rikki Fortenberry, , / , , Dolly Fugate, , Enumclaw Rotary Foundation, Enumclaw Lions Club, Dorian Studios, , , , , , Eta Kovacs, Mens Wearhouse, and Nancy Merrill. (If you have a link that we didn't include, please let us know in the comments below.)

And not to mention the volunteers: Lorraine Loeffler, Vickie Adderson, Kay Borst, Ann Willette, Vickie Haberman, Marti McNab, Martha Blodgett, Sheila Bogdon, Laura Deck, Rachael and Dynaa Heistuman, Jean Stanley,Cindy Highsmith, Phyllis Blake, Renee Van Hoof, Mary Lou Galvin, Whitney Huminek, Carol Schmitt, Martha Blodgett, Dennie Anderson, Jacquie Wieland and of course our (board) main team members - Sally Zoll and Nancy Wieland. 

Calling for Additional Support

This year marks the third year of Prom Dreams and while community support has grown in the form of small donations from private citizens, the effort lost a sizable funding source this year, organizer Judy Zumwalt said.

As such, funding to keep the program going for next year is very much needed. Prom might seem a minor detail but it does mean a lot to the students who get the help to attend this once-in-a-lifetime event. Here's a sampling of some of the essays the girls wrote in applying for consideration this year:

"My family is of low income and are having issues paying for senior expenses and are not entirely sure how to put me through college."

"All of my senior friends are talking about how fun they are going to have for their Prom. I tend to worry if I will be able to afford it. ...Knowing that I won't have to worry about the financial part would give me a chance to relax and enjoy these conversations with my friends, about the great time we will have and the memories that will be made."

"I would very much like to be part of the prom dreams because my mom can't afford the tickets, pictures, and the whole shabang, my mother is a single parent of my brother and I and she does what she can for us."

Additionally, Zumwalt said this year is the first year organizers have tried to provide a similar service for the young men and have received 10 free tuxedo outfits from Men's Warehouse in Auburn. However, demand is greater than supply and Prom Dreams received a total of 18 applications, so they hope there might be a few more gently used tuxedos out there that could be donated for the students this year.

If you can help with a spare tuxedo, donations are being received at at 1806 Cole Street in Enumclaw (please tag them 'Prom Dreams'). Monetary donations are also always appreciated and can be made payable to the Enumclaw Rotary Club for PROM DREAMS.

Please call Judy Zumwalt at 253-332-1504 if you have more questions.