It’s a night most high school students will remember forever: prom.
However, affording everything needed for prom – like a dress and shoes – has become increasingly difficult for some.
So a prom dress giveaway at Olympia Fields is paving the way for students to feel like Cinderella, making their dreams come true.
In a recent giveaway, a variety of dresses in different colors and sizes were on full display at Chez Delali Salon and Spa — and they were all free.
Several girls came to get Cinderella’s dress like 18-year-old Tatiana Joseph. She and her mother, Tian, drove from Aurora.
“It’s a special moment,” Tian said through tears, “We’ve been through so much, it’s really a release.”
Prom is a rite of passage, but some like the Josephs can’t handle it.
“All the dresses we were looking at were over 300, 500, so this is a big break for us,” Tian said.
The Prom Dress Giveaway allowed Tatiana to enjoy prom before graduating from Metea Valley High School.
“I’m going on a date,” she said, smiling in a pink mermaid dress. “I’m very excited because we’re trying to match the colors a little.”
Adodo Robinson, the owner and organizer of Chez Delali Salon and Spa, started the donation 11 years ago.
She said one of her clients told her how expensive prom was, and that gave her the idea to host the annual giveaway to give back to the community.
She said COVID stalled in 2020 and 2021, but is now back to continue helping dozens of students.
“They’re glad they came and found a dress and had an opportunity to go to prom, because once they leave high school they realize they needed that to celebrate the closing of that chapter,” Robinson said.
“I want to thank them so much for doing this for everyone and for all the girls who will be lucky enough like Tatiana to get a dress today,” Tian said tearfully.
Robinson said the next giveaway will be Saturday, March 25, and encourages people to come out.
