Project Dream Dress

Every high schooler deserves to feel and look their best at their prom, and Project Dream Dress is here to make that happen. We’re dedicated to ensuring that youth impacted by foster care experience a special prom night by offering beautiful dresses and dapper tuxedos.

Get Involved

Donate your new or gently used prom dresses. Drop off locations are:

ReFresh Boutique (1710 S. Brentwood Blvd., Brentwood MO)

West Oak Cleaners (1171 Olive Blvd., Creve Coeur MO; 2470 Taylor Rd., Grover, MO; or 12 Four Seasons Shopping, Chesterfield, MO)

40 Elephants (200 S. Kirkwood Rd., Ste 140, Kirkwood MO)

Synergi Medspa (17000 Baxter Road, #100, Chesterfield, MO 63005)

Interested in organizing a dress drive? Contact Shelley Thomas-Benke at shelleythomasbenke@foster-adopt.org.

Pick up dress donations from our business partners — a number of businesses around the St. Louis area will be drop off locations for dresses. We will need volunteers to pick up those donations and deliver them to ReFresh. Contact Shelley Thomas-Benke at shelleythomasbenke@foster-adopt.org to sign up.

There are many ways to get involved in Project Dream Dress!

    • Princess Prep – Help assess, organize, and tag all of the gowns and accessories to get ready for the big event.
    • Personal Shopper – Be matched with a VIP (“very important princess”) to help her choose the perfect prom dress and accessories. A clean criminal background screening is required.
    • Seamstress – Help make alterations to make sure every gown is a perfect fit. Volunteer seamstresses often take 2-3 dresses home to finish and bring them back within 1-2 weeks. A clean criminal background screening is required.

A sign up form will be available soon.

Who Is Eligible for Project Dream Dress?

Project Dream Dress provides a free prom dress to young people who:

  • Are currently in foster care, or were adopted or have a legal guardian through foster care; and
  • Are current high school juniors or seniors; and
  • Plan to attend prom; and
  • Live in the metropolitan St. Louis area (including Metro East Illinois)

If you are a foster/adoptive parent or foster care case manager, please click here to fill out a referral form

If you are a high school social worker or guidance counselor, you may make a referral to Project Dream Dress for young people who:

  • Have families with extreme financial need and would be financially unable to otherwise attend prom; and
  • Are current high school juniors or seniors; and
  • Plan to attend prom; and
  • Live in the metropolitan St. Louis area (including Metro East Illinois)

If your child is not impacted by foster care but is in significant financial need, contact your school social worker or counselor to sign up. If the school staff does not have the form, they will need to email Madison Brown at madisonbrown@foster-adopt.org to receive the link.

The deadline to refer a child for Project Dream Dress is February 17, 2025.