News Digest News Digest (February 04, 2005)

Prom dresses needed

The DIVAS of Downtown Pleasanton are collecting dressy dresses for the second year to give Bay Area girls a cost-free alternative for prom shopping.

Dresses can be donated the week of Feb. 20 at Fusion 3 Salon & Spa, Passionate Athlete, Clover Creek, La Boheme, Jeweler's Gallery, 560 Main, Towne Center Books, American Harvest, Ruma, All About Me and State Farm Insurance Agent Lawrence Mui. The final collection day will be Saturday, Feb. 26, when all the dresses and accessories will be gathered at Coffee Beans & Bistro from noon to 2 p.m. and donated to a representative from the Princess Project.

The Project will hold two events in April for teens to "shop" for the perfect prom dress with accessories, along with makeovers and photos with their friends. The Princess Project has provided more than 2,000 high school girls with free prom dresses and accessories since it began in 2002. Last year, more than 200 dresses were collected in Pleasanton. For more information, visit www.PrincessProject.org. 'National Wear Red for Women Day'

Pleasanton joined other cities across the nation in declaring today, Feb. 4, "National Wear Red for Women Day," recognizing that one in five females in the United States has some form of cardiovascular disease. It claims the lives of more than half a million women each year, which is more than the next seven causes of death combined and nearly twice as many as all forms of cancer. Every year for the past 20 years, more women than men have died of heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.

The city urged everyone to wear red today in recognition of family, friends and neighbors who have suffered from heart disease and to raise awareness. The American Heart Association launched the campaign to encourage women to pay attention to their hearts and live stronger lives by reducing their risk for cardiovascular disease.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.