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Say Yes To The Prom Dress

Teen and her mom start nonprofi t to provide
prom dresses for teens who can’t afford them.

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The Reserve of Beverly Crest
   
    
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LINDA LADERMAN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS



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30

March 8 • 2018

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riven by a desire to give back, we knew. They’ve responded with
16-year-old Danielle Lutz
everything from gift cards to dress-
and her mother, Beth, are
es,” Beth Lutz said. “So far, we’ve
intent on changing the world, one
received 300 dresses. This has been
dress at a time.
an incredible example of how
ABOVE: Beth and generous people are.”
After she volunteered
Danielle Lutz
with a California nonprofit
Because Detroit Public
organize the
that provides free prom
Schools is a district with a
donated prom
dresses and accessories
high poverty rate, the signifi-
dresses.
to girls who can’t afford
cance of a chance to dress up
them, Danielle, a junior at
for a big night is something
Birmingham’s Groves High School,
Boubol is quick to emphasize.
thought the concept could benefit
“We have between 25 and 40 per-
girls who attend Detroit Public
cent of our 3,000 kids living below
Schools.
the poverty line, so we work very
“I thought the idea was so inter-
hard to make sure they have what
esting that I wanted to do it locally,”
they need in school. It’s almost
said the younger Lutz, whose fam-
impossible when it comes to any-
ily are members of Temple Beth El.
thing extra,” Boubol said.
“Prom is a huge thing in Detroit, so
“To have something like this to
my mom and I began looking for
look forward to in a different way,
ways to get dresses donated for girls to have a day where they can say,
who can’t buy one on their own.”
‘I’m going to be able to wear a great
Since Danielle recruited her
dress. I’m going to make sure my
mother to help launch her initiative, confidence is not a thing today,’
the mother-daughter pair estab-
directly affects their performance in
lished the nonprofit Rewearable and the classroom.”
found a partner in Remy Boulbol,
Boulbol is already thinking about
the development director for the
expanding the scope of “Say Yes to
Detroit Public Schools Foundation.
the Prom Dress!” by including boys
The result is “Say Yes to the Prom
who attend prom.
Dress!” an event to help high school
“We hope to do it again next year
girls, who attend Detroit Public
and include suits for boys who are
Schools, select a prom dress, jewelry, going to prom,” Boubol said, add-
handbags and shoes. The event is
ing, “Danielle and Beth have really
from 4-7:30 p.m. Thursday, March
found a way to pull the community
22, at the Detroit School of the Arts,
together for this.”
located at 123 Selden St.
The importance of commu-
“Remy really understood the
nity remains first and foremost
need for this project. She knew how
in Danielle’s mind as she and her
hard the girls were working to pay
mother finalize the last-minute
for their dresses,” Beth Lutz said.
details for the March 22 endeavor.
“Everyone is entitled to a special
“It means a lot to me to be able to
night. What teenager doesn’t want
give back because I hope if I needed
to have that?”
it, the community would be there
With March 22 just around the
for me,” Danielle said. “It’s impor-
corner, the Lutzes are delighted with tant to be aware, to stop and look at
the response they’ve gotten from
what is going on around you.” •
area business people.
“We’ve contacted local merchants, To learn more about Rewearable or to
donate, visit rewearable.net/donate.html.
and I’ve reached out to people