The Valley Wedding Pages hosted a Prom Dress Drive on Saturday, March 28, at Leona Boutique in McAllen, bringing together community members for a meaningful cause. The event collected over 52 items, including prom dresses, men’s suits, and jackets, thanks to the generosity and participation of the local community.
The initiative aims to support high school seniors who may not be able to afford the additional expenses associated with attending prom. With the goal that no student is left behind, all donations will benefit students at Jimmy Carter Early College in La Joya ISD.
Teacher Leslie Gonzalez, who runs a prom dress closet at Jimmy Carter Early College, helps organize and distribute the donations to students. This ongoing effort has been supported by Daisy Gonzalez, publisher of Valley Wedding Pages, who began the initiative in 2012 while she was a teacher at La Joya ISD.
“Every year we have students who skip celebrations like prom because they can’t afford the extra expenses,” said Leslie Gonzalez. “Not on my watch, all my students will attend their prom.”
La Joya ISD School Board Member Julian Alvarez also attended the event, showing his support by donating suits and jackets, as well as purchasing $100 worth of accessories. “We are grateful for what you do and appreciate the community coming out today and supporting La Joya ISD,” he shared.
Leona Boutique owners Edna and Alexandria Posada generously opened their doors for the event, making it easy for donors to drop off formal wear. Located in central McAllen, the boutique also offered donors 20% off purchases that day. “When Daisy asked us, we didn’t think twice; we wanted to be part of making someone’s prom possible,” they said.
Community members who would still like to contribute to the initiative can contact Valley Wedding Pages publisher Daisy Gonzalez at 956-240-8191.
