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Community Corner

Brooklyn Prom and Scholarship Makes Dance Accessible

An organization offering up prom dresses and accessories brings joy to local high school girls.

As May approaches, dreams of graduation and prom begin to dance in the heads of local high school kids. 

The girls play with thoughts of beautifully extravagant dresses, beaded bodices, large tulle skirts,  bright manicures, fancy hairstyles, large sparkling jewelry and perhaps a pair of spiky heeled shoes. 

Unfortunately, due to the economy and the state of many financially struggling parents, there aren’t always funds left to fulfill the wish of a pretty dress for a night. Bernice Foster Malone is determined to change that. 

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Foster Malone has created an organization to help girls and boys pull together their prom essentials and enjoy this important social event in their lives, regardless of their finances.

“Everyone should be able to attend their prom, so this program helps to alleviate the costs of prom by providing dresses and accessories to teens," said Malone.

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Malone, a UConn  graduate who earned a degree in fashion merchandising and retail buying recalls a long history of loving clothes and playing dress up, herself:  “I remember always digging in my moms makeup and wearing her shoes and my older sister's shoes, slip dresses... anything to dress up.” 

Her 7-year-old daughter, falling in her footsteps, is now busy donning princess dresses & twirling around in fairy dust. 

"My daughter is my inspiration. She is my business partner," said Malone.  The mother-daughter team runs Dazzle Divaz, a mobile party service that creates magical dress up parties girls dream about.  

Foster Malone wanted to teach her daughter to be an entrepreneur, but she also wanted to show her the importance of giving back to the community. Then Brooklyn Prom came to mind.

"I wanted to come up with something fun that had to do with dressing up but was also something that she would be able to understand, she definitely understood prom dresses," she said.

Last year, the program brought in 200 dresses that went to girls from 6 different local high schools.  The girls showed up and went shopping on the racks of formal wear and were treated to other little accessories and goodies.

Malone offered a workshop for the girls where she had speakers come in and teach them about etiquette and image.  There were raffles for manicures and hair appointments and the most coveted prize, a custom designed dress made by a local designer, a full day of beauty and a limo to the prom!

This year, Malone hopes to collect even more dresses, and she’s introducing a few new facets to the program.  The Bed-Stuy men’s organization, We Make Us Better, is sponsoring 30 senior boys from the Bedford Academy. 

The boys will receive free tuxedo rentals and the Men will be leading a boy’s etiquette workshop.  Malone is also excited to announce that she’s added a scholarship award to the Brooklyn Prom program.  A portion of the money fundraised will go into a scholarship fund to help incoming college freshman with the expensive extras that go with attending, college, like books.

For the future,  Malone hopes to expand on the scholarship portion of her organization, as well as become more involved with other youth empowerment programs. 

She dreams of being able to offer workshops on all kinds of topics ranging from financial classes to arts and culture.  She also hopes to be able to spread the program to reach and help kids all over Brooklyn.

 Girls and boys prom attire and accessories can be dropped of at the following:

  • House of Art (373 Lewis Ave, corner of Macon St.) Bed Stuy
  • Tin City (366 Lewis Ave between Macon St and Halsey St.) Bed Stuy
  • Deluxe Hair Gallery (704 Fulton between So. Oxford and So. Portland) Fort Greene

But Malone has stated, if needed, she will pick up any donations. 

Next week launches several fundraisers to help support the organization which is renting tuxedos for the boys as well as contributing to the scholarship fund.

MEN THAT COOK

Sponsored by WeMakeUsBetter

Sample great food prepared by men who enjoy cooking in their spare time.

Saturday April 23, 2011

2pm to 5pm

St. Philips Church

265 Decatur St (between Lewis Ave and Stuyvesant Ave) Bed Stuy Brooklyn

$20 adults, $10 for kids 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased in advance or purchased at the door.

AN AFTER WORK MIXER

Sponsored by Therapy Wine Bar

Stop by and enjoy a “BK Dazzler”. Proceeds will benefit the Brooklyn Prom & Scholarship Project. Prom attire donations will also be accepted.

Thursday April 28, 2011

7pm to 10pm

Therapy Wine Bar

364 Lewis Ave (between Macon St and Halsey St)

PRE-MOTHER’S DAY TEA

Sponsored by Therapy Wine Bar

A treat for  your mom or have a fancy afternoon with friends.  Enjoy a variety of Teas, finger sandwiches, pastries and great company.

Sunday May 1, 2011

2pm to 4pm

Therapy Wine Bar

364 Lewis Ave (between Macon St and Halsey St

$25 ticket can be purchased in advance by calling 1-877-329-9953 or purchased at the door.

“DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY” an Adult-Only Prom

Sponsored by The Brooklyn Prom & Scholarship Project

For those who didn’t attend their prom, want to re-live their prom or just want to have a fun night out and support a great cause!

Friday May 6, 2011

8pm to 12am

M.S. 35

272 MacDonough St (between Lewis Ave and Marcus Garvey Ave)

$40 stag  $60 per couple

($10off with a dress or suit donation)

 

For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/brooklynpromproject, email Brooklynprom@aol.com, or call 1-877-329-9953

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