The Prom Fairy, a nonprofit group, donates dresses to girls for big night

k.m. cannon/viewNatalie Winslow, founder of the Prom Fairy Foundation, organizes prom dresses in her Mountain?s Edge home, Jan. 31. Advertisement

Prom isn't just another dance. It's one of those nights that high school girls premeditate for months. For most, it's the first time they can don a fancy dress, high heels and real jewelry.

It's their night to be Cinderella.

But for underprivileged teens, the anticipation of shopping for the perfect gown and accessories is just a high-priced fantasy.

In November, several years after her senior prom, Natalie Winslow sat in the living room of her southwest Las Vegas home thinking of how she could clear out her closet. She nearly sold three of her former bridesmaid dresses on eBay before a light bulb idea came to her.

"I thought, I should give these away," said Winslow, a 26-year-old mother of two.

She imagined a nonprofit organization that accepts donated dresses and accessories and passes them on to high school girls in need. Her idea officially became a nonprofit organization, called The Prom Fairy, in December.

Winslow, a product of a single-parent family, said she knows what it's like to have little. She grew up in and out of family shelters, and her name hung on the Angel Tree most Christmases. In high school, Winslow took a job at McDonald's and earned enough money to buy a prom dress.

"I've been there, and I've never forgotten the people that helped me," she said. "I always wanted to do something to give back."

Winslow and her two friends, Robin Howe and Pam Jackson, took on the nonprofit's roles as directors. They designed a Web site and put out a call for donated dresses to friends, family and coworkers. They also contacted the Clark County School District, which promised to inform students of the group.

So far, The Prom Fairy, based in southeast Las Vegas, has roughly 60 donated dresses.

"I thought it'd be harder to get things going," Howe said. "We just dove in, and everyone has been very supportive."

Harrah's Entertainment Inc. employees are holding a two-week dress drive later this month. Other businesses have offered to donate makeup samples and hair and manicure appointments to be given to girls who qualify for the program.

To qualify for a dress, girls must be high school juniors or seniors with student identification and hold no less than a C grade average. They must be eligible for the free or reduced lunch program at school or referred by a teacher, a counselor or a church or community leader. Girls can register at www.thepromfairy.org.

Winslow, Howe and Jackson will host two boutique days, where each girl will be paired with a volunteer personal shopper to pick out a dress and an accessory, free of charge. The boutique day also will include refreshments and raffles.

"We wanted to create an experience for them, where they felt pampered, and they saw that someone really cared," Jackson said.

The Prom Fairy is in search of a place to hold the boutique days. The exact days have not been set, but most likely will be on two Saturdays in late March or early April.

So far, four girls have signed up for dresses. The directors' goal is to provide between 150 and 180 girls with prom dresses. Eventually, they would like The Prom Fairy to spread to other states.

Dresses, shoes, jewelry, purses and other accessories can be dropped off at five dress boutiques throughout the valley. A link on the Web site allows people to donate money. Donations will be used to buy plus-size dresses and to help pay for the boutique days.

Twenty-year-old Simone Pates admits it wasn't easy to give up her white, sleeveless prom dress.

"I really loved it," she said. "But I knew I wouldn't wear it again, and I just wanted to help someone out."

Contact Southeast and Southwest View reporter Danielle Nadler at dnadler@viewnews.com or 224-5524.

DRESS DROP-OFF SITES

* A Gorgeous Gown Bridal Boutique, 2550 S. Rainbow Blvd., offers a $20 discount with each donation.

* C Level Boutique, 750 S. Rampart Blvd., Suite 15, offers a 15 percent discount with each donation.

* PINK Boutique, 740 S. Rampart Blvd., Suite 9, and 2240 Village Walk Drive, Suite 128.

* Dresses also can be mailed to P.O. Box 93281, Las Vegas, NV 89193.

* For more information, visit www.thepromfairy.org or e-mail info@thepromfairy.org.