The girl’s eyes light up at the sight of her dream dress; her hair is perfectly curled, nails manicured and painstakingly-chosen jewelry catches the light of the room, sparkling brilliantly. For many, prom is a momentous night that symbolizes elegance and a step towards adulthood. However, in recent years the cost of prom has peaked—last year a survey conducted by Visa revealed that the average American family spent $919 on all prom expenses, nearly 20% less than the all-time high average of $1,139 reached a few years ago.

With prices so high, prom can be financially inaccessible for many families. In order to ensure that every girl has the opportunity to have the prom of their lives without financial worry, organizations such as the Princess Project work to provide an alternative for families in need across California. The Princess Project, with locations in San Francisco, the Silicon Valley, San Diego and Tracy, offers a free dress and accessory for anyone interested.

“Economic situations within families can be difficult, and when parents can’t afford an expensive dress for prom, the students can take advantage of the Princess Project,” said Mayela Ramirez, Parent Center Coordinator.

This year’s Princess Project event in the Silicon Valley area was held at Valley Fair mall in Santa Clara March 12, 13, 19 and 20. According to the Princess Project website, more than 10,000 teenagers from over 90 high schools stretching from San Mateo to Hollister attend the dress fairs each year.

At Sequoia, participation in the Princess Project, whether as a dress-shopper or volunteer, is encouraged. In addition to the Princess Project, Ramirez works with students at Sequoia to provide other opportunities to provide affordable dresses for Prom and Winter Formal. Senior Emma O’Hara recently worked with Ramirez to put on a dress drive at Sequoia in which student-donated dresses were offered for $25, or completely free for those who qualify for free or reduced lunch.

As prom season approached, O’Hara worked to spread the word about these programs offered at Sequoia.

“Before students finish high school, [they] want to go to prom and have a nice experience, which includes being dressed nicely and feeling like a princess,” O’Hara said. “[The Princess Project] allows people who aren’t able to or have the means to buy dresses feel special on prom night.”