For some high school girls, prom is a dream they can’t afford. But for 55 of our Centaur girls, it was a dream come true, thanks to CCHS Career Counselor Adrienne Madrid, CTE-ROP Counselor Margaret Fujisawa, CCMS Counselor Jeanine Lizotte, CCHS Principal’s Secretary JoNellia Guinn, Nurse Kathleen Lally-Arena, CCHS ROP Support staff member Marion Serra, Computer Specialist Diane Lococo, Intervention Specialist Rosa Maldonado, Intervention Specialist Ida Spencer,Laurisa Lopez, (herself a senior who understood how much prom could mean to others and wanted to help make their dream come true), the Culver City Education Foundation (CCEF) and a few generous companies.
The Second Annual Project Prom took place in The CCHS Multi-Purpose Room (MPR). With beautiful floral arrangements donated by Sada’s Flowers and Eunice Vines, (counselor and florist from Vines Designs) and a bit of music, the MPR became an elegantly transformative space with a fun vibe. There were dozens of little tea sandwiches, fruit, veggies and lemonade. Hotcakes Bakes donated a large platter of desserts and BSweet Dessert Bar charged only half price for two of their sweet platters.
The Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy in Santa Monica brought an instructor and a 
coordinator along with nine advanced students to style the girls’ hair. Hair care products were donated by Debra Castaneda.
Volunteer make up artist and parent Jenni Tay plus seven Smashbox Cosmetics makeup artists were on hand to do the girls’ make-up. Smashbox also donated 70 bags and fabulous start-up make-up kits to hand out to all the girls, including the student volunteers.
Ten student volunteers (College & Career Ambassadors) were on hand to handle the check in table and coordinate appointments. And parent and professional photographer, Holly Gable, made a photographic record of it all.
The girls were pampered, “I felt like a princess,” one said.
Among the donations: 25 prom dresses (plus dry cleaning). Jewelry. Even a few prom bids.
What an experience! One girl said, “Project Prom is one of the reasons why I though[t] prom was fun.” Another commented, “Getting my hair and make-up done, I have never felt so beautiful.”
The girls received the gift of a Prom dream come true, and the knowledge that people in their community really care about them. The donors and volunteers got a great gift, too, for there is no greater gift than the gift of giving.
– Culver Currents, photos by Holly Gable
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