Glamour Gowns 2014 Provides Foster Girls With New Formal Gowns, Shoes, & Accessories on March 29th At L.A. Convention Center

Los Angeles, CA, March 14, 2014 — Glamour Gowns has been touching the lives of high school girls in the Los Angeles foster care system for over a decade, and the 2014 event will continue that tradition, providing over 350 young women with new formal gowns, shoes, jewelry and more from major designers, all at no cost. The event is organized by a dedicated volunteer committee working with CASA of Los Angeles.

Glamour Gowns 2014 will take place on March 29th between 10am and 5pm at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Individuals and members of various professional and charitable organizations donate their time to help each young lady find the perfect dress. A team of seamstresses volunteers for the day to help each young lady achieve the proper fit of her dress and a volunteer who serves as a “personal shopper” also assists each young lady through her selection of dresses, shoes, jewelry and foundation garments. Hair stylists and make-up artists add their expertise and instructions to help the girls complete their look for their special evening.

“We aim to create a heartfelt enrichment event that allows young ladies to feel like princesses for a day,” said Glamour Gowns Chair, Kristen DeLeo. “Glamour Gowns not only provides dresses, but also builds self-esteem, self-confidence, and a feeling of self-worth. Our hope is the experience will have a lasting and positive effect on these young women.”

There are more than 28,000 children under the jurisdiction of the dependency court in Los Angeles County and more than 17,000 live in foster care. Financial circumstances often do not allow for “non-essential,” yet important, items like prom dresses or attire for formal dances. Glamour Gowns seeks to create lasting, positive memories for milestone events like proms, in the lives of young ladies who have often endured and overcome difficult circumstances.

The event is sponsored by partners such as philanthropic organization SHARE, Inc., Masquerade formal wear, women’s shoe manufacturer Chinese Laundry, the Los Angeles Convention Center, Jenette Bras, Studio DNA, West Coast Jewelry, David’s Bridal, Arbonne, and Neutrogena, with support from Los Angeles City Councilmember Curren Price, Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, and Jan Perry, General Manager of the Los Angeles City Economic and Workforce Development Department.

For Young Women In Foster Care Who Want To Participate

Glamour Gowns is a private event, only open to high school aged girls in foster care in Los Angeles County. Pre-Registration is required for all foster girls who wish to participate. Foster girls must register with their name and their DCFS Child Social Worker name, and must be assigned a specific time. Click here to register or call Joanne Solov at 310-471-1239. Only high-school aged girls residing in Los Angeles County are eligible to participate. Reservations must be made by Friday, March 21, 2014.

For Those Interested In Volunteering

Volunteers are needed for set-up on Friday, March 28, for the main event on Saturday, March 29, and for tear down on Sunday, March 30. Volunteers are especially needed for set up and tear down. Men and children (under 18) are not allowed at the event on Saturday, however male participation is welcomed on Friday and Sunday. There is no childcare available for volunteers so CASA asks that young children be left with a caregiver. Click here for more information about volunteering at Glamour Gowns.

ABOUT CASA/LA

Founded in 1978, CASA of Los Angeles is a community-supported 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to mobilize community volunteers to advocate on behalf of abused and neglected children in the overburdened foster care system of Los Angeles County. CASA’s vision is of a Los Angeles where every foster child has an advocate and the opportunity to thrive. Through committed, highly trained everyday citizen volunteers, CASA brings the voice of a concerned community into the child welfare system. Studies have shown that children with CASAs receive more assistance and support than children without, and are more likely to be adopted or returned to their families and less likely to reenter the child welfare system. For more information, please visit the CASA of Los Angeles website: www.casala.org

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