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Donate your prom dress to Caring Partners' Belle of the Ball

Prom season is on the minds of high school girls throughout Massachusetts, a stressful season for those with limited financial resources. Social media peer pressure and pop culture can turn a typically memorable milestone into a crisis point for young women in crisis. Celebrating its 15th year, Caring Partners' "Belle of the Ball" prom dress drive transforms high school junior and senior girls through the generosity of donors, sponsors and volunteers -- true Caring Partners collaborating to help any girl who needs a prom dress due to financial constraints.

Starting February 4, 2019 and running through March 30th, simply drop off your gently worn prom dress to any Anton's Cleaners, Jordan's Furniture or Enterprise Bank location. All good quality, gently worn or new prom dresses are welcome. Anton's Cleaners then cleans the donated prom dresses at no charge, and distributes to high school junior and senior girls who could not otherwise afford to attend their school's prom. (See antons.com, jordans.com or enterprisebanking.com for a location near you).

Monetary and in-kind donations are also welcome to cover jewelry, makeup and other accessories and prom-related services; visit antons.com/belle to make a financial donation. Caring Partners, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.

Unlike other prom gown collection drives, this program culminates in a "boutique" event where deserving girls are invited for a day of personal shopping and pampering – a powerful personal experience. This year over 1000 girls will be invited – more than ever before – to enjoy Boutique Day at the Hynes Convention Center, with dresses displayed in a variety of colors, styles and sizes, all free of charge. Since attendance is by "invitation only," students must be pre-qualified by guidance counselors, teachers and social service agency personnel, who then refer high school girls to the program online only through antons.com/belle.

"In many ways, the world has changed dramatically since we founded this program 15 years ago," said Arthur Anton Jr., COO, Anton's Cleaners and a founder of Belle of the Ball. "But our mission has remained consistent: every high school girl should have the experience of feeling beautiful, inside and out, at their prom. Through our collaborative and generous corporate partners, dress donors, and a giant team of loyal volunteers and supporters, we are proud to make these dreams come true for the fifteenth year, ensuring no girl who needs a prom dress goes without one."

Tapping into a similarly dedicated network of partners for Anton's successful Coats for Kids drive, the tremendous dress collection effort is coordinated with high schools, colleges, and corporate and community partners. Companies, organizations and schools interested in holding a prom dress collection drive, making an in-kind donation, or individuals looking to volunteer at the boutique can sign up online at antons.com/belle.

According to corporate partner Eliot Tatelman, President and CEO of Jordan's Furniture, "We are happy to continue our support of Belle of the Ball, and invite our generous customers to bring their dresses and gowns to any one of our stores, and be part of this wonderful program. Attending Belle of the Ball is a highlight for me, as I look forward to seeing these girls' magical transformations, and huge smiles, each season."

For fifteen years, girls have shared final prom dress photos and written to the program with transformative stories, describing the impact Belle of the Ball has had not only as a clothing drive but the positive change in the way they felt about themselves.

To date, more than 4,545 girls have been outfitted since Belle of the Ball began in 2005, with over $2.7M in dry cleaning services donated by Anton's since the program's inception.

For more information about Caring Partners' Belle of the Ball, visit antons.com/belle.