Prom Dress Project” is at it again, and this time, with the help of Big Brothers Big Sisters, distributed over 120 free prom dresses to students in Fillmore and Santa Paula.

Prom Dress Project” is at it again, and this time, with the help of Big Brothers Big Sisters distributed over 120 free prom dresses to students in Fillmore and Santa Paula. The Prom Dress Project is a community collaboration that brings new or used prom dresses to underprivileged girls who could not otherwise afford a prom dress.

“For more than four years, the Prom Dress Project has collectively brought together the caring power of our community by bringing light to the need of providing prom dresses to young girls who could not afford a dress due to tough economic conditions. “We started helping out students at Pacifica High School in Oxnard and expanded our operation countywide,” said Nancy Rodriguez, Founder of the Prom Dress Project.

Thanks to our very generous community, over 500 dresses will be available for High School girls attending prom this year, along with make-up and hairstyle demos, gift cards and discounts provided by local vendors. Thanks to local business partnerships, prom dresses were collected at locations countywide through March 24, including B95.1 Studios, Salzer’s Records, The Massage Place (Fire House Plaza), The Wooden Hanger, JDK Shoes, and Camarillo Bridal.

“We are delighted to support Nancy Rodriguez, a mentor at our Montalvo school-based mentoring site in her efforts to bring a smile to students at Fillmore High School and across the county. The Prom Dress Project is a unique way for our community to flex its charitable muscle,” said Pedro Chavez, Director of Education & Public Affairs at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County. “The expense of going to prom can be overwhelming for many families living with limited resources. These young women shouldn’t be denied a memorable experience simply because they can’t afford it. Some memories especially those that we all know will last a lifetime should never be denied!”

"Prom Dress Project" came about in 2009, when Nancy Rodriguez and her friends realized that there were many struggling families in the Ventura County. By working together, they realized they could make a positive difference. Nancy Rodriguez linked up with Cuba Montero, a counselor at Pacifica High School, who had started an in-house prom dress-recycling program for her students. Nancy felt very passionate about the cause, and wanted to offer the same type of program to girls throughout Ventura County. And so, with the help of friends, family, and the local community, "Prom Dress Project" was launched and has been a successful venture.