Club conducts 2017 prom-dress giveway

 
 
Hundreds of teens throughout the West Valley are attending their high school proms this spring wearing beautiful dresses, new shoes and spiffy tuxedo clothing – all at no cost thanks to the efforts of The Rotary Club of Peoria North.
 
The club this spring has coordinated the annual My Girlfriend’s Closet prom-dress giveaway. Conducted the past seven years by project founder and former PNRC member MaryAnne Baker, the club this year stepped up its support and is overseeing the entire project.
 
Securing a vacant storefront in South Peoria, club members assisted MaryAnne and her husband in setting up this year’s prom-attire giveaway. Hundreds of students showed up during the three Saturday giveaways – April 8, 15 and 22.
 
Club members were joined by fellow Rotarians throughout the West Valley -- including members from Surprise, Peoria, Glendale West, Sun City West, Downtown Phoenix satellite and Sun City satellite clubs – as well as a number of other volunteers and students.
 
Thirty-six students showed up the first Saturday and 108 students were served on April 22.
 
Girls had hundreds of dresses and shoes to choose from, while the young men’s options increased dramatically thanks to a recent donation of formal tuxedo pants, shirts, vests, bow-ties and shoes.
 
The project has received widespread attention in the local newspapers and on several Valley-wide TV stations. The efforts of the Rotary Club of Peoria North were prominently mentioned in the promotional efforts (with Club Secretary Cheryl Palmer doing a superb job in serving as our spokesperson in one of the segments!).
 
The space was donated to the club by Michael Pollack. Nearly every PNRC member has volunteered in one way or another to assist with the project, with member Donnis Deever overseeing the bulk of the project and taking on the most responsibility – from cleaning the facility to scheduling volunteers.
 
The club will be taking down and storing all the items after the April 22 giveaway.
 
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