The Dresses And Dreams Project

by Diane A. Rhodes

The Dresses and Dreams Project, founded by Dawn Schultz, offers young women opportunities to make their dreams a reality. Operation Prom Girl, typically held in April each year, is its signature annual event that serves as a prom and graduation dress giveaway and celebration.

The theme for 2022 was “Dignified” and was set around crowns and pearls. Each year, a theme is chosen, and up to 100 girls with any type of hardship or challenge are invited to apply to be part of the full-day event. The agenda consists of a continental breakfast, inspirational and motivational speakers, lunch and sweet treat table, fashion show, drawings for prizes throughout the day, socialization, photography, on-site resources and informational tables. Each girl leaves with her choice from about 1,000 new or gently worn gowns, accessories and a “swag bag.”

Any young woman with a financial hardship or challenging circumstance who would like to apply for a dress, can do so online by visiting http://www.thedressesanddreamsproject.org to complete an application. There is no residential restriction.

Roots are planted

The Wildomar-based nonprofit was established in 2014 when Schultz, a disabled single mother of three children, moved to the area.

“I could not afford to send my daughter to prom and someone stepped up to help,” she said. “I wanted to pay it forward; it started with intentions of helping a few girls get to their prom. I used social media “ as a platform to tell area residents who I was, what I planned to do and where they could find me if they wanted to donate a dress. I placed a rusty rolling rack on my porch that would serve as a 24-hour drop off and went to areas and businesses to answer the call for dress pickups.”

Within a month Schultz had collected more than 100 gowns and dresses, and a couple of months later in springtime right before prom, she had 300.

“I realized my dream was smaller than God’s plan, and that first year, 19 girls were served gowns (and some shoes too) after the VFW Wildomar offered us a room to have what would be our very first Operation Prom Girl event,” she said. Originally starting out as a dress program that first year, Schultz’s vision grew to offer teens with challenges a way to find their value, overcome their obstacles and live life to their full potential. As a makeup artist for 25 years, Schultz said she remembered all of the girls and women who sat in the makeup chair and shared their stories. “No matter the demographic, they all had similar stories. The only thing that changed were the faces,” she said. After starting her organization, she would hear stories from the young women about insecurity, abuse, addiction, unworthiness and despair. Schultz realized that many needed more than just a dress, they needed hope. The organization operates on a year-round basis by offering workshops on real-life and raw topics as well as resources, referrals and advocacy. “As a survivor of violent crimes, some of the subject matter we cover are subjects I’m passionate about,” she said. “These include human trafficking, teen pregnancy, suicide, domestic violence, healthy relationships, addiction and life skills.”

Lives begin to bloom

Schultz said most of the young women she meets through the program do not feel valued I realized my dream was or know what their purpose in life is. smaller than God’s plan. “While the dress is the main attraction, we are able to offer them so much more,” she ” said. “We want these individuals to know who they are after the makeup and the dress are gone and they are looking in the mirror with their reflection star– Dawn Schultz, founder ing back at them. Many do not even know that they too have a right to dream, and that dreams can come true no matter what kind of crisis or challenges one has experienced.” She lets them know that it is never too late for them to live their dream and with the proper support, lives can be drastically changed.

Dawn Schultz, left, founder and president of The Dresses and Dreams Project, poses for a photo with Rita Wears of Elsinore Valley Pregnancy Resource Center, one of the nonprofit’s partner organizations. Participants “shop” for the perfect dress at the 2021 Operation Prom Girl event, sponsored by The Dresses and Dreams Project. About 1,000 formal dresses for prom and/or graduation were available at the 2022 event. Courtesy photos

“Part of my own testimony includes a young life full of hardship and heartache,” she said. “When no one is there to support and guide us through the dysfunction, we become vulnerable, an easy target for prey, and things happen. We want a girl to understand that she is beautifully and wonderfully made and that we are here to help.”

Support is intertwined

Schultz said connecting with other organizations and professionals to offer additional resources and advocacy is key to addressing a variety of needs. The Dresses and Dreams Project regularly partners with groups such as SAFE Family Justice Centers, Elsinore Valley Pregnancy Resource Center, Abundantly Authentic, Generations Rise, Million Kids and Alcoholics Anonymous.

The volunteer-led organization offers different opportunities for volunteers to share their time, talent and treasures. The group is also seeking dependable hair and makeup people for the fashion show segment and cosmetology students are welcome.

“Those interested in volunteering can start by filling out a form at http://www.thedressesanddreamsproject.org,” Schultz said.

Grounded in service

Schultz said her year-round dedicated staff of volunteers includes Reanna Ritter, accounting; Keisha Montfleury, author, speaker and social media contributor; Natalie Morgan, fashion show and ministry lead; Teresa Meier, volunteer coordinator; Catherine Walsh, décor; Bridgette Moore, community support; Aiko Holdaway, speaker, victim advocacy and admin support; Rosie Lovato, photography and life skills; and Kathy and Brady Sutton, dress team managers.

The project is also seeking financial donations, food donations for the luncheon and dessert table and swag bag items. She hopes local restaurants and businesses can help. Since all programs are free for participants, donations are critical to the success of these events.

“Though we are a small yet mighty nonprofit making a difference, we have less exposure and are sometimes overlooked by philanthropists and donors who choose larger and more familiar names when investing their resources,” Schultz said.

To date, more than 2,000 girls and women have been served between the Operation Prom Girl program for teens with hardship or difficult circumstances and the Dresses for Heroes program for military women in California. Recipients are found through word of mouth, area networking, social media and schools. Schultz said one of the organization’s ongoing challenges is partnering with point persons at school districts to get the word out about all their programs and the annual Operation Prom Girl event.

“I am currently invested in The Dresses and Dreams Project full time,” she said. “I am also a mother of three adult children, a grandmother of a five-year-old and devote time to speaking out on subject matter that I have fiery passion for.”

For more information, visit http://www.thedressesanddreamsproject.org/donate, dressesanddreamsproject@gmail.com or on Instagram.

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