Photo by Kacie Fuselier

SJA Supports Cinderella Project

St. Joseph’s Academy students, along with faculty and staff members, donated 254 gowns and dresses to the Cinderella Project, a non-profit organization that provides garments free of charge to less-fortunate high school students in the Baton Rouge area. The organization, which fosters empowerment and individual beauty by providing free prom dresses to high school girls who could not otherwise afford them, hopes this year to help students from all 17 high schools in East Baton Rouge Parish.
 
“...the Cinderella Project was a wonderful opportunity to help someone in need.” Hannah Gardiner '10

Last year, SJA donated 20 dresses to the cause. This year’s outpouring was “completely overwhelming,” according to SJA faculty member Stacy Rennhoff, who coordinated the 2008 campaign, which began on September 17 and concluded on September 25.

Students and faculty/staff members donated new or gently used gowns and dresses, which will be distributed later this year to deserving girls at a special “red carpet” event during which they choose the dress of their dreams.

“Our students always look so beautifully dressed at all dances and SJA events,” said Stacia Bordelon, assistant principal of activities. “I am so glad to see that so many were able to part with their dresses so someone else could feel beautiful, too. It is so wonderful to see so many generous students.”

Junior Rivers Berryhill said she took great pleasure in knowing that her donation of several of her older sisters’ dresses would help other girls feel special. “When I was little, I always watched my sisters go to their high school dances in beautiful dresses of every color and design imaginable, dreaming of the day I would be able to look like that,” she said. “As I can’t wear their dresses, it seemed natural to pass them on to others because I think that everyone deserves to have just one night where they feel beautiful without a doubt. As my sisters and I had our nights to feel that way, why shouldn’t these girls?”

SJA Custodial Supervisor Lena McGee donated nine dresses to the cause. Her reasons, she said, were personal. “I never went to the prom,” she said. “My grandmother, who raised me, could not afford a dress for me to wear. I felt left out. It was always my dream to be the princess going to the ball, and that didn’t happen for me. I know that many of the parents of these girls can’t afford those dresses, so this is my way of helping their dreams come true. It’s such a good feeling to give. It makes me feel like I could still be Cinderella.”

Freshman Jenny Landry said the project was a meaningful way to make a difference in another teenager’s life. “It was really cool to donate dresses that were hidden in the back of my closet and know that it was going to make some girl feel so beautiful and special,” she said. “Knowing they were going to feel beautiful made me feel so good about what I had done.”

Faculty member Karen Douet eagerly participated in the outreach effort. “I had a pretty dress sitting around in my closet just waiting for an appropriate occasion, but one never arose,” she said. “When Stacy announced that SJA was participating in the Cinderella Project, it dawned on me that I could either keep the dress in my closet until it went out of style, while I just waited on an event, or the dress could actually be useful to someone who needed and would really enjoy it.”

Junior Caroline Ourso said participating in the cause allowed her to clear out her closet while helping someone else at the same time. “I thought, ‘Hey, why not?’” she said. “I love cleaning out my closet and room and giving away stuff. It’s sort of like a therapy for me. I’m just glad that I could be of help.”

When faculty member Elizabeth Fontenot learned of the project, she told her niece, who is a sophomore at LSU, who happily donated dresses. “We talked about how lucky she was to be able to get the dresses she wanted for her dances, and she wanted to help other girls have that same sense of feeling like a princess,” she said.

Senior Leigh Beth Matthews donated six dresses to the project. She said it was gratifying to know that her dresses were the reason other high school girls would be able to attend their school dances. “It brought me such joy to donate dresses to this project,” she said. “We take for granted that we are able to go and buy new dresses while these girls don’t have that opportunity, and I wanted them to have the same joy and happiness that I feel when I get a new dress or any other new clothing.” 

Librarian Rebecca Stagg donated several of daughter Marie’s dresses to the project. Marie is a 2002 Academy graduate. “For my daughter, prom was mostly about the dress and the preparation for the prom,” Stagg said. “So, I hope some young lady in the Baton Rouge community will have the opportunity to have that same excitement about going to prom and feeling beautiful on her special day.”

Junior Hannah Gardiner agreed. “I think the Cinderella Project was a wonderful opportunity to help someone in need,” she said. “It seemed like a waste to let dresses that I know I won’t wear again sit in my closet for years, so I figured that I might as well help a girl make her dreams come true. I feel really great knowing that some girls out there will be able to wear the dress of their dreams.”

Rennhoff said she was immensely grateful to the SJA community for their whole-hearted support of the Cinderella Project. “All week, the girls have asked me, ‘How many dresses do we have now?’” she said. “When I asked our community to join me in becoming fairy godmothers, I knew they would rise to the occasion. I want to thank everyone for helping other high school girls go to the ball.”


Mindy Brodhead Averitt
Communications Director