'Princess' time 'Princess' time (March 12, 2004)

Give a gown and make the prom possible for a teenage girl

Prom time is a chance for high school girls to feel like a princess for an evening. But those evenings don't come cheap, as any parent can tell you, and they can be out of reach for those struggling just to buy practical clothes.

Enter the Princess Project. For its third year, volunteers are collecting prom dresses and giving them away to girls from throughout the Bay Area. The Princess Project tries to make the fittings fun and memorable, with makeovers, photos taken with friends and, of course, the shopping for that perfect dress.

The DIVAS - a group of women downtown business owners - became involved, reasoning that used prom dresses are languishing in many Pleasanton homes, hoping for another evening out. Wraps, jewelry and handbags are also being collected.

"I know there are many old bridesmaid and prom dresses in Pleasanton closets," said Karen Pace of Creations Jewelry, founder of the DIVAS.

The dresses and accessories will be collected next week, March 15-19 and the morning of March 20, during regular store hours at Fusion 3 Salon & Spa, Passionate Athlete, Clover Creek, 560 Main, Towne Center Books, Clothes Nest, Gourmet Works, RUMA, Jewelers Gallery, American Harvest and Angela's.

The nonprofit Princess Project handed out 325 dresses in the Bay Area in 2002, its first year; 670 last year; and this year its goal is 1,000.

The gowns should be fashionable - prom dresses not "mom" dresses - and in excellent condition. They must be dry-cleaned and on hangers upon donation.

The fittings are being held from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. March 27 and April 3 in San Francisco. For more information, visit www.PrincessProject.org. The Get a Dress Hotline number is (415) 269-6667. -Dolores Fox Ciardelli

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