Click on the
link below to learn of some exciting ways to help us
achieve our mission!
Mission-
Prom Possible
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Q: Can I donate my
wedding gown?
A:
Ever After Gowns does not
accept traditional formal wedding gowns as donations. We
have had success, however, with more simple and modern
choices such as sleek satin sheaths and chic cocktail
length dresses. If you have a more traditional gown that
you would like to donate, we recommend the
organization “Brides Against Breast
Cancer”. Please click on the link for more
information.
Q:
I’m a teen! How can I
get a dress?
A: Our
boutique is by invitation only. You must first qualify via
your school counselor in order to receive an invitation and
attend. It is a simple process and is easy to qualify. This
helps ensure that gowns are going to young women who truly
are in need. If you need a dress, please speak to your
school counselor about our organization and ask them to
contact us. We do not grant admission to the boutique
through parental or social worker request - the contact
must be made by the student’s educational institution
to ensure school participation and verify need best.
Q: What about a tax receipt?
A:
We are a 501(c)(3) corporation
and your donation is tax-deductible to the fullest extent
allowed by law. Please contact your tax specialist for full
details. Because we are an eco-friendly company whose whole
premise relies on the concept of renewable resources - in
our case clothes etc. - we do not provide paper copies of
receipts at our drop spots. Instead, please visit
our Tax Receipt tab to the left to obtain an electronic
copy of receipt for your records.
Q:
Are you collecting dresses
now?
A:
We collect gowns, shoes, and
accessories all year round! We understand that when you are
ready to clean out that closet, most likely you want to go
ahead and do it - not wait around until we are ready to
hold a dress drive! We want to make donating as easy for
you as possible and that is why we collect all year! So go
ahead and do that spring, fall, winter, summer cleaning
that you were planning on - we are ready! Click on
Drop Spots for more information.
Q:
I am a teen. Can I volunteer
at the event?
A:
We love working with teenagers
who want to make a difference in their community! While we
do not permit teens to work at the actual boutique event
while our guests are present, we have many volunteer
opportunities for our teen supporters. From dress drives,
to boutique set up and more, we would love to hear from you
if you are interested. We do not permit teens to work the
boutique event out of respect for our guest’s
privacy. It could be uncomfortable for a teen in need to
run into a fellow student who is working as a volunteer.
Please visit our volunteers page for more information and to
contact us.
Q: What makes your group different from
others?
A:
The Ever After Gowns
Experience is what separates us from other dress giveaway
groups. We value our guests, their comfort, and their
happiness above all else. Rather than wait in long lines in
a public venue as passers-by wonder why so many girls are
standing in line, we ensure privacy, efficiency, and
elegance through a secure venue, booked appointment times,
expert volunteers, and a large selection of inventory. By
having more dresses than guests, we are better able to meet
our goal of every guest finding her dream dress. After all,
how often do you go shopping where the first dress you try
on is “the one”? From warm personal care and
privacy to the full pampering experience added to gown
selection through hair and makeup, Ever After Gowns truly
is an experience, not just an event.
Q:
How do you know the girls you
serve really are in need?
A:
We specifically work with high
school guidance counselors to identify and verify women in
need because those trusted specialists have the knowledge
and information to affirm specific need. Much research has
been conducted on this process and we prefer not to ask our
guests to fill out forms stating need and have them signed
- for one thing, it can be humiliating to sign on paper
that you cannot afford a dress and we want to be as
respectful as possible. Also, it can be difficult to verify
the legitimacy of the affidavit and it can be misused and
misrepresented. Additionally, at our Boutique we verify
each guest’s identity via ID card or Driver’s
License and have lists in advance of all attendees. We want
to be sure that our Experience is serving the young women
that our mission intends. We realize that there are more
young women in need than our capacity can currently meet.
We hope to continue to grow and serve as many young women
as possible. It is Ever After Gowns’ pledge to give
our guests a quality experience, not just process
quantity.
