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What is Glamour Gowns?
Glamour Gowns is an annual event in its
seventh year sponsored by CASA of Los Angeles. Any high school
aged girl in foster care in Los Angeles County may receive
a free formal gown for her special prom night.
Who is eligible to receive a dress?
Any young woman currently in the Los Angeles County foster
care system in need of a formal gown for a special event such
as her prom may receive a dress.
Why is Glamour Gowns so important?
In Los Angeles County alone, nearly 30,000 children are
in foster care. Many of these children lack the love, care
and attention that most of us take for granted as we grow
up. Finances are not always available for the purchase of
“non-essential” items like a prom dress. CASA
believes that attending a formal dance should be an opportunity
open to every young woman regardless of family or economic
circumstances. Many of these young women are repairing both
emotional and physical scars and need to participate in normal
school events along with their friends to feel progress and
a sense of value in their lives. Glamour Gowns is a heart-felt
enrichment event which enables young ladies to be a princess
for a day.
What is our goal in 2008?
Glamour Gowns provides dresses, while also building self
esteem, self confidence and, most of all, the feeling of self
worth. CASA of Los Angeles aims to provide a formal gown along
with coordinating accessories for any teenage girl in foster
care in need of a gown for a special event such as her prom
and the chance to feel valued and glamorous. As many as 600
young women will participate in 2008. Each year brings us
many more opportunities to help enrich the lives of these
young women.
Where do these dresses come from?
All of the dresses are new or gently used, donated by generous
individuals and businesses throughout Los Angeles.
How does CASA help abused children?
CASA of Los Angeles supports volunteers who help abused
and neglected foster children in court and the community.
A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer is appointed
to a foster child’s case by the judge making crucial
decisions about the child’s life. CASA volunteers make
a difference in the lives of foster
children, one child at a time, by ensuring they receive the
support and help they deserve. The CASA volunteer is often
the most stable presence in a foster child’s life and
for many foster children, the CASA volunteer is the only person
who is not paid to care for them. CASA volunteers bring the
voice of the community into a child welfare system that is
often overly bureaucratic and legalistic.
Friends of CASA, the fundraising arm of CASA of Los Angeles,
is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization; tax ID # 95-3890446.
For more information visit www.casala.org or call Friends
of CASA at 323.526.6329.
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