Student helps foster children turn prom from a dream into reality

Caitlin Connolly,  a public  administration major at UCF, stood closely to Marjorie Arment in a room filled with donated multicolored formal dresses, shoes, and accessories as they picked the perfect gown for Arment to wear to prom.

Arment's prom dreams were made possible by Connolly's  Prom for Dreams organization.

"It [Prom For Dreams] is really amazing," Arment said. "I'm really happy to experience this because I couldn't get a prom dress on my own."

 Connolly started the non-profit  organization in 2009. The organization provides teens with prom dresses, tuxedos, accessories and even dinner gift certificates.

Connolly said 60 youths enter  the Florida foster care system every month. At any one time, there are at least 1,500 youths in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties.

"I am very interested in the foster care system and the child welfare system," Connolly said.

She said her passion is children in the United States who do not have a voice.

"I've always wanted to adopt and eventually open up a foster home," she said. "I thought this [Prom for Dreams] was one step to understand the foster care system and to leave a little bit of an impact along the way."

Independent Living Supervisor with Intervention Services of Seminole county, Amanda Annis said foster children usually can't afford all of the expenses traditionally associated with going to prom.

"So for them to pay their rent, pay their utilities, … pay all of their bills, maintain high school and possibly have extra curricular activities or a job and afford to go to prom - that is really tough."

Arment, 18, an independent living foster youth does just that — she pays rent, car insurance, a cell phone bill, works at Pizza Hut 10 hours per week, runs track and field and maintains a high school GPA of 3.7.

 "Foster care is for survival, not acts of normalcy that Prom for Dreams is able to give them," Connolly said.

At a Prom for Dreams event on April 10, Connolly hopes to give 19 high school seniors  some normalcy by providing them with updos, tuxedo fittings and dinner gift certificates, while volunteers act as their personal shoppers.

"It may not be the best dress they have, but at least they are able to go to prom and we can instill a sense of self-esteem and confidence," Connolly said. "It's about them for that day."