Sequins and Smiles aids formal plans

Disadvantaged high school girls have missed formal events because of their financial needs, but Sequirs and Smiles plans to change this.

Sequins and Smiles is Georgia College & State University’s independent branch of a national program called The Glass Slipper project. The Glass Slipper project allows underprivileged girls the opportunity to receive formal attire so they can attend formal events.

Rebecca Atha, student coordinator, was touched by the project and wanted to create her own program.

“We are an organization that gives dresses to underprivileged young ladies in Baldwin County and the surrounding area,” Atha said.

Students can get involved in a variety of different ways. Event coordinators, fundraisers, buyers and sewers are needed. There is one position in Sequins and Smiles that appeals to the female student body — the opportunity to become Fairy Godmothers.

“We also will try to link them (high school girls) up with an individual that I call Fairy Godmothers.

That way the girls have someone to walk them through the process of getting their hair and make-up done. It’s just someone to hold their hand because these young ladies are generally not able to go to these events, and they can receive guidance from someone who has gone.”

Freshman Anna Brewster became interested in the program, after hearing about The Glass Slipper project.

“It looked like a lot of fun, and I had seen the Glass Slipper project. I always wanted to be involved in it,” she said. “Now that I have the time to do it, I really wanted to get involved.”

The high school girls must contact the program through a high school counselor, church or other professional organization. The girls must also meet some requirements before being able to receive a dress. Grades, extracurricular and community activities are considered but not required; however, an involvement in a personal growth experience seminar provided by the Give Center is mandatory.

“They have to go through a personal growth seminar which will be a basic lesson on why you are important and how you can become something later on. It’s just to make sure they know that they are beautiful and this one night, when they are beautiful, is just the beginning,” Atha said.

By experiencing a night of beauty, a girl’s self-esteem rises and she feels better about being herself. It gives her the feeling of approval in a society that can be cruel to those in need.

Atha has had a similar personal experience and wants to stress the importance of the program. She wants to impact lives and takes the program seriously.

“We are not playing dolls with these girls; we really want to change lives,” Atha said.

“I really think it will help a lot of girls,” Brewster

Students are not the only people who can help. Local businesses can help support the program as well. Sequins and Smiles are in need of Limo services, dry cleaning, hair/ cosmetology services, restaurant coupons and floral donations.

Donations are desperately needed in order to adequately meet the needs of high school students.

“I would love to have a full closet,” Atha said. “When a girl comes in who wears a size one needs a dress, we want to be able to give her a dress, shoes an d jewelry.”

To donate time, money or resources come by the Give Center, call us at (478) 445- 5700 or email the student coordinator at rebeccaarlene@yahoo.com.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Nov 8 2002. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry