Anton’s Cleaners, which has locations in Tewksbury and Wilmington, has launched its eighth annual Belle of Ball program with the continued mission to collect, clean and distribute prom gowns to area high school junior and senior girls who otherwise would not be able to attend their prom. All dresses are cleaned by Anton’s free of charge as a community service.
A key component in the campaign is the value of referral partners, who are the direct link to the girls that will be attending the Belle of the Ball boutique in mid-April. Belle of the Ball is looking to enlist community centers, teachers, social service agencies and high school guidance counselors as Referral Partners, who will identify girls who can benefit from the program.
After these students are pre-qualified, they will be invited to a special “boutique” held in Boston at Simmons College on April 14. Students who meet the guidelines to participate will “shop” for their dresses with the assistance of volunteer personal shoppers who will help each girl find the right dress. Prom dresses are being collected at all Anton’s Cleaners and Jordan’s Furniture stores, and are cleaned by Anton’s at no charge.
“The feedback from the girls we referred to Belle of the Ball was amazing,” said Sharee Gittens of Family Services of Greater Boston. “They were completely outfitted from head to toe, and grateful is an understatement. One young lady in particular felt like she got the red carpet treatment as the volunteers pampered her and made her feel like royalty. As a result of Belle of the Ball, she is able to attend her prom, beautiful and worry free.” And echoes another Referral Partner,
“I am so excited about the prom and the girls have been elated about their choices in dresses; just this morning I had two student that came to me raving about how beautiful their dresses were,” said Deborah A. Doherty, R.N, school nurse at Burke High School in Boston. “I am so happy that Belle of the Ball provided the students at Burke High School the opportunity to have their prom dreams come true. Thank you. It was an absolutely pleasurable experience for all.”
Good quality, “gently-worn” prom-appropriate dresses are needed and can be dropped off at all 42 Anton’s Cleaners locations or all Jordan’s locations – Avon, Reading, Natick, Nashua, and Warwick – from Feb. 1 until April 1. In mid-April, a “boutique” takes place at Simmons College in Boston. Since attendance is by “invitation only,” students must be pre-qualified by guidance counselors, teachers and social service agency personnel, who refer sophomore, junior and senior high school girls to the program. Last year, close to 2,000 dresses in a variety of colors, styles and sizes were displayed. More than 400 girls attended last year’s boutique, enabling every young woman who participated to find a dress that was just right.
For more information about Belle of the Ball, or to sign up as a referral partner, visit www.antons.com/belle/referral.html.
Anton’s Cleaners serves the Boston area, Eastern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire with its 42 stores and home delivery in certain communities. Care, quality and value are hallmarks of Anton’s dependable dry cleaning and shirt laundry service. Anton’s is also recognized nationally and locally for its commitment to improving the lives of those in the communities it serves through two major community responsibility programs, Coats for Kids and Belle of the Ball www.antons.com/belle.
Find Belle of the Ball on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BelleofBallNE or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BelleoftheBallNE.
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