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Her heart's on spaghetti straps

Through a Dunedin woman's program, high school girls on tight budgets have a better chance to get a beautiful dress and have a prom night to remember.

By TERRI BRYCE REEVES
Published March 13, 2005

CLEARWATER - Susan Schwartz is a modern fairy godmother who makes dreams come true for teens who want to look pretty for the prom but can't afford the price tag.

The Dunedin resident has collected more than 300 prom dresses - plus shoes, purses, jewelry and accessories - which she plans to distribute to North Pinellas high school girls so they can look magical on their special night.

"It is so satisfying when you see these girls so happy," she said, her face flushing and eyes welling up with tears. "I had one mother tell me her daughter wasn't able to attend a function the year before because she didn't have a dress."

Schwartz calls her project "Belle of the Ball."

The teens can select their dream ball gowns free on March 19 and April 2 at Party City of Countryside, 26252 U.S. 19 N, prince and carriage not included.

Schwartz, a vivacious woman with a broad smile, looks much younger than her 45 years. Just a couple of weeks ago she had neck surgery, but one would never know the way she bounces around, stepping on crates to reach the tall rack that holds her vast collection of gowns.

"It's so fulfilling. It's like my calling," said Schwartz, a part-time student at St. Petersburg College who is considering becoming an elementary school teacher. "At 45, I've finally figured out what to do in life."

The formals are stored in the back of Party City of Countryside where the owners, Sally and Bill Harrington, have donated air-conditioned space and the use of four dressing rooms.

There are oodles of strapless and spaghetti-strap gowns ranging from extra-smalls to large sizes. Many have price tags still intact.

"People just give me these expensive dresses out of the kindness of their heart," she said. "All I have to do is ask."

Some are sleek and slinky, while others reflect vintage styles like the traditional princess ball gown and A-line silhouettes.

Schwartz realizes that a few of the donations are a bit dated. Pointing to a shorter beaded cream-colored dress with sleeves she said, "this wouldn't probably work for a teen, but it would be perfect for a mother who was going to chaperone a dance or be in a wedding."

She received an unusual donation a couple of weeks ago.

Wrapped in a small piece of notebook paper were two 14-karat white gold rings. One is inlaid with 14 tiny diamonds and the other with 10 small diamonds and two sapphires. The hand-written message read:

Both of these are real. I got them from a boyfriend and would like to give them to someone who would appreciate them but may not have a nice ring to wear on their special occasion. Enjoy, Lynn.

As in any good Cinderella story, the girls must try the rings on first. If one should fit, they can submit their names for a drawing. Winners will be announced after the second dress giveaway.

Once upon a time - actually a couple years ago - Schwartz opened a closet and found seven forgotten formals worn by her daughters, Jessica and Meghan, now 18 and 16. She knew that many other families of Clearwater Central Catholic, where her daughters attended school, likely had fancy dresses from cotillions, proms and homecoming hanging in the back of their closets as well.

Then she remembered her proms from the 1970s.

"I was raised on limited means, one of six children," she said. "I bought my prom dress from Kmart. We didn't shop at department stores. I thought all the other girls had dresses prettier than mine.

"Clothes do really make a person and they can affect how a person feels about themselves. I didn't want girls to not attend the prom because they didn't have anything appropriate to wear," she said.

Like all good fairies, she knew what she had to do.

She contacted administrators at Clearwater Central Catholic, who allowed her to request dress donations through the school newspaper and Web site. Although she collected dozens of dresses that spring of 2003, she could only give a few away.

"I didn't know how to reach the girls who really needed them," she said.

She began contacting school guidance counselors, community involvement officers and social workers. She asked churches to place notices in their bulletins. She networked with organizations like Clothes to Kids, a nonprofit boutique in Dunedin that provides school clothes for needy kids, to get referrals. And she told everyone she ran into about the project.

Jane Hussar, community involvement coordinator at Countryside High School, has been working with Schwartz to get the word out through Cougar Closet, a program to furnish students in need with stylish school clothes.

"We get donations from Macy's and sometimes we donate the fancier dresses to Belle of the Ball; sometimes we send students over there to get them," she said. "They come back and say they've gotten some beautiful dresses."

Last fall, Schwartz orchestrated her first major gown giveaway for homecoming, giving away 50 or 60 dresses.

Vebra Campbell, whose daughter Jessica attends Dunedin High School, was thankful.

"I think it's really great what this lady does," she said. "My daughter wouldn't have been able to go because I didn't have the money. She ended up getting a beautiful peach homecoming dress."

The girls will be allowed to take home only one formal.

"We ask them to return but if they want to keep it for a wedding or special occasion it's theirs," Schwartz said. She wants to avoid girls who just want some free dresses, or those who would sell them on eBay.

"That's why I try and work through the school system; so girls are prequalified and we get those who truly are going through a hard time," she said. Girls who think they may qualify should contact the appropriate school personnel, she said.

Sun Country Cleaners will donate one free dry cleaning to be used before or after the prom, depending on the need. Teens will receive a coupon with their 18 locations listed on the back.

There's no need to have the gowns home by midnight.

"They can just drop them off at the dry cleaners or Party City," Schwartz said. "I'll pick them up for use by another girl next year."

Prom dresses and accessories may be dropped off year-round at two Party City locations during normal store hours: Party City of Countryside, 26252 U.S. 19 N near Toys "R" Us and Party City of Palm Harbor, 36001 U.S. 19 N near Hooters. Free prom dresses and accessories will be given away on two Saturdays, March 19 and April 2, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Party City of Countryside, 26252 U.S. 19 N., near Toys "R" Us. Please bring a flier from school counselor or social worker. E-mail Susan Schwartz at sschwa1004@aol.com

[Last modified March 13, 2005, 00:22:15]