Earlier this year, we highlighted The Corsage Project—an organization dedicated to helping under-resourced girls attend prom by providing dresses, shoes and accessories free of charge.

Its flagship event, the Boutique Ball, which was held on May 2, invites high school students to “shop” for their prom look with the help of volunteer personal shoppers. The event has been running for over 25 years and has made prom possible for thousands of Corsage participants. This year, more than 200 girls were outfitted for prom.

• Impact at a glance
• 25+ years of Boutique Ball magic
• Thousands of students supported
• 200+ girls outfitted this year

Creating a memorable Boutique Ball experience for students takes a dedicated team of volunteers, with planning that begins months in advance. Volunteers help source donations of brand-new merchandise, then the night before the event they sort, display and set up the boutique. By the time students arrive, the space is transformed into a bright, welcoming shop filled with racks of dresses, sparkling accessories and volunteers ready to cheer each girl on—as you can see in the photos below.

For volunteers, one of the most meaningful moments is seeing confidence grow in real time as each student finds a look that feels like her.

Katie O’Hara, vice president of marketing for FirstService Residential’s north, east and south regions, has been a Corsage Project volunteer for the past 10 years and leads its volunteer committee. “I love our volunteers because they make it happen – we have so many returning ones and I love meeting new ones who will be back. And something I find really special is that we have Corsage Girls come back to volunteer.”

Katie’s teammate, Meaghan Ketcheson—previously profiled as one of our People of Purpose—volunteered alongside Katie, along with Donna Seelman and Daniela Francia from First Onsite. Daniela’s daughter also volunteered at the event.

Donna Seelman, senior sales operations specialist at First Onsite, shared, “The event was truly heartwarming. I was so impressed by the teamwork and care everyone showed in creating such a meaningful experience for the girls, and I felt grateful to be part of it.”

Daniela Francia, director, commercial business development, echoed Donna’s sentiments, “It was such a wonderful event, and my daughter and I were so happy to be a part of it. It was a great evening supporting such an important cause, and we really enjoyed being there. We’re looking forward to volunteering again next year.”

Learn more about The Corsage Project and how to support its mission by visiting their website.