Courtesy of BeccasCloset.org:

“Little things can make a big difference…”

This was the phrase that served as the driving force behind the beautiful life and caring actions of 16-year-old Rebecca Kirtman. Becca, a cheerleader, honor student, and caring young woman, passed away in a tragic automobile accident on August 20, 2003. Today, her family and friends not only remember Becca for her great love and friendship, but also for her contributions to the community.

In the Spring of her Freshman year at Nova High School in Davie, Florida, Rebecca launched a dress drive to provide prom dresses and accessories to high school girls who could not afford to purchase them. Rebecca was a passionate, bright, fun-loving young woman who loved being with her friends and felt that no one should miss a high school event because they couldn’t afford to be there. She saw the inequity in the situation and sought to change things. During the Spring of her sophomore year, Becca single-handedly collected and donated over 250 formal dresses and helped hundreds of girls across South Florida attend their High School proms in style.

To keep Becca’s dream alive, countless dedicated people throughout the world have joined with her family and friends to provide opportunities for those who seek them. Our volunteers work toward a common goal initiated by Becca.

We applaud the Becca’s Closet organization and encourage all of you to consider donating your prom, formal, and quince gowns to a similiar group. If there isn’t a Becca’s Closet in your state, you can always make your donation to The Goodwill or Salvation Army groups. Or better yet – maybe you’ll get together with a group of friends and start your very own Becca’s Closet chapter!

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Who says prom has to end after the formal event is over? Prom after parties are growing in popularity. If you are part of your prom planning committee or just want to get a group of friends together to celebrate the end of your high school career, we’ve got a few ideas on what you can do make it fun and tips to make it safe.

Let’s get one thing out of the way – no drinking! I know that isn’t what you want to hear, but seriously – no booze. Besides the obvious reason – you aren’t of legal drinking age and it’s just uncool, there have been tons of instances where school administration found out about after prom booze parties and decided to cancel the prom all together. Drinking just isn’t worth the risk to your life, safety or the respect of your family and friends. There is a ton of different ways that you can have fun after the prom without alcohol.

After prom pool party: If your live in a warm area or your prom is held during the warmer months, an after prom pool party bbq is the perfect idea. You can have the party the next day, invite people over to swap digital pictures, and just enjoy the day in the sun.

After prom beach party: If a pool isn’t available – head to the shore (if you live close to one of course). Organize the event with friends and designate certain people to bring food, games, and music. Make sure you check the rules and regulations of the shore. Generally speaking, beaches are public places – however some shores have private/member only areas. So what may seem like a great spot to set up your party may actually be private.

After prom backyard BBQ party: If the pool party and beach party aren’t options for you – that doesn’t mean that you can’t have an awesome time in your own backyard! Check with your parents for permission to have a backyard BBQ . You can coordinate the party with other friends to split the cost of food, or you can supply the food and ask for a small “donation” fee to help cover the costs.

After prom skate / bowling party: So you’ve nixed all of the outdoors ideas – a skate night or cosmic bowling night may be a great alternative! Check out your local skating rink and bowling alleys. Many hold “cosmic” events where they stay open past midnight and it’s more of a party atmosphere.

Clearly there are an endless number of ideas for your prom after party. Just remember to keep it safe, and the fun will come naturally!

With the worsening economic crisis that our country is currently facing, it goes without saying that this year may be really hard for parents when it comes to buying prom dresses. We found this really great organization Donate My Dress that is devoted to collecting donated prom dresses!

From their site:

DonateMyDress.org is the first national campaign designed to encourage girls around the country to donate their prom and special occasion dresses to those who cannot afford to finance the costly experience of going to their prom, sweet 16, quinceañera or formal on their own. The site features a directory of local dress drive organizations across the U.S. that will enable girls to easily find out where in their local markets they can donate a dress or receive one. In addition, DonateMyDress.org contains information on upcoming local events, a photo gallery of real girls donating and receiving dresses, as well as links to content on prom and quinceañera planning, hair and makeup tips, and other worthy causes. DonateMyDress.org is part of the Hearst Teen Network, which includes the industry’s leading teen brands — CosmoGIRL!, Seventeen and TEEN — as well as MisQuinceMag.com, MyPromStyle.com, eCRUSH.com and eSPIN.com. With more than three million monthly unique visitors, the Hearst Teen Network is one of the top 10 ranked entertainment news web sites, according to ComScore Media Metrix.

State List of where you can donate your prom dress