Jamaica Group To Help Local Students Get Prom Dresses and Ties By Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska | February 17, 2016 2:46pm@ewakj 100 Suits for 100 Men will give out 130 prom dresses and 30 free ties to middle and high school students in Southeast Queens during an event scheduled for next week. QUEENS — Prom season can become a huge financial strain on families with limited resources.To ease that burden, 100 Suits for 100 Men, a local non profit focused on helping young people in the neighborhood, will give out 130 free prom dresses and 30 ties to middle and high school students during an event that will take place in downtown Jamaica next week.“We want to make sure that young people are dressed and ready to go,” said Kevin Livingston, the founder and president of the group, who teamed up with the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation and State Senator James Sanders to organize the event, dubbed "Magical Moment." The free outfits were donated by manufacturers and community members, Livingston said.

During the event young people will get tips from beauticians, makeup artists and fashion image consultants. They will also be offered free haircuts and learn how to tie a tie. Several mentors from the Southeast Queens community will be present to offer advice on life goals and financial literary session will also be provided, Livingston said."I want them to have a full overall experience so when they go to prom season they will be well equipped," Livingston said.About 40 students attending the event next week will also get a chance to register for "100 Suits Academy Conference," which will take place in April at Columbia University.During the conference young people from Southeast Queens will meet with students and board members of the School of International and Public Affairs, Livingston said, adding that he hopes the meeting will inspire young people from the neighborhood to pursue further education and careers in international affairs.Livingston established 100 Suits for 100 Men in 2011.

His primary goal is to help formerly incarcerated men by helping them get jobs and giving them free business attire. Magical Moment will take place on Saturday, Feb. 27, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Harvest Room at 90-40 160th St.in downtown Jamaica. Those interested in participating should register by calling 100 Suits for 100 Men at 347-445-4697.clearance prom dressesIf Angela Hines has her way, every young woman in Far Rockaway who wants to go to the prom will have a beautiful dress to wear this year.short prom dresses juniors But the Legal Aid lawyer, who is also a mom of five, is struggling to get donations as prom season looms.cheap ivory prom dresses "The transformation is amazing when these girls try the dresses on," said Hines, 46, who is aiming to help 500 girls in the community including kids in foster care.black lace prom dress aliexpress

Hines is an inspiration to young women in Rockaway. A high-school dropout and teen mom, she put herself through college and law school. Through her Project Window program, she mentors middle school girls by emphasizing the importance of education and self-esteem. "They have a choice, they don't have to live their parents life," said Hines, who grew up in the Edgemere Houses and now owns her own home in Rockaway Beach. "They have to decide where they are or if they want to do better things." She started collecting and distributing the dresses back in 2013 when local families were still reeling from the impact of Hurricane Sandy. NEW YORK'S INITIATIVE 'NO EMPTY CHAIR' TO KEEP TEEN DRIVERS SAFE DURING PROM, GRADUATION SEASON Providing young girls with free dresses, shoes and accessories is one way to boost their confidence and allow them to celebrate accomplishments — whether it's a middle school graduation party of high school prom. "Living in the projects itself is hard," said Hines.

"If you can overcome that stigma and graduate, even if its middle school, I want to encourage them to keep going." Angela Hines, founder of Project Window a nonprofit organization that provides girls in low-income housing projects in Far Rockaway with opportunities to reach their full potentials. Here with donated prom dresses she will give to girls on Sunday April 3, 2016. Hines is an attorney who grew up in NYCHA projects in Rockaway. (Debbie Egan-Chin/New York Daily News) Zakiah Murphy,12, center, and Victoria Rodriguez,14, are wowed by their first look at donated prom dresses at home of Angela Hines,left, founder of Project Window, on Sunday April 3, 2016. Hines is an attorney who grew up in NYCHA projects in Rockaway and volunteers to give back to young under privileged girls growing up in similar environment who would never be able to afford these donated dresses.(Debbie Egan-Chin/New York Daily News) Angela Hines, founder of Project Window, shows off a donated prom dress that she has recieved. 

Zakiah Murphy, left, looks at a dress. In 2013, Hines collected almost 500 dresses but in recent years the donations have dropped to 250 and last year only 100. Even though companies such as Kleinfeld Bridal, KiKi D's, Fashion Delivers and Revlon contribute to the prom program every year — she is looking for individual donors and additional sponsors. "Prom dresses are not cheap and some people just can't afford it," said Deandria Campbell, 15, who volunteers with Hines. "This really puts a smile on people's faces and makes them feel confident." On May 14, Hines and her volunteers will hold a special event at the Goldie Maple Academy in Arverne where girls can select dresses, shoes, accessories and even have makeovers to get ready for prom season. "Sometimes the girls don't want to try them on at first but once they do, they light up," Hines said. "One of the girls last year told me "I've never felt this pretty before in my life.'" More than 100 Southeast Queens teens received the opportunity to make lifelong memories last Saturday, with the combined help of local civic groups and community leaders.

Headed by 100 Suits for 100 Men president and founder Kevin Livingston, young women gathered in the Harvest Room on Jamaica Avenue and 160th Street and were given a variety of prom dresses, shoes, accessories and other prom night essentials completely free of charge. “We are serving high school and middle school seniors today,” Livingston told the Press of Southeast Queens. “Eighty percent of the schools are from Jamaica, and we have some schools as far as Far Rockaway.” Schools included August Martin High School, Campus Magnet, Washington Carver High School and many more. “If we have young people in the community graduating, we want to congratulate them, and then we want to help them out,” Livingston said. The idea was first put into action at the end of last year after the untimely passing of 16-year-old Jihad Jackson. Jackson, whose death is considered the last homicide of 2015 in New York City, sparked community-wide concern over youth in the community.

At an emergency town hall meeting on Jan. 1, planning for an event to help encourage kids to stay in school, remain educated and keep them pursuing more productive activities outside of the classroom began. That night, Livingston was able to secure a number of volunteers to act as mentors and work with community kids. A number of guests were at the event, many of which helped organize or supported the initiative. Community members included photographer and hip-hop legend DJ Larry Love, state Sen. James Sanders (D-Far Rockaway), Community Board 12 Chair Adrienne Adams, Pastor Rodney Reid and Southeast Queens go-to interior designer Pauline Noel, who was also one of the previously mentioned mentors. “This is a time when they are trying to figure out where they fit in in the world and who they’re aspiring to be,” Noel said. “This is important time where they need to feel beautiful they look beautiful and they should hear affirmations from other people and the community. Getting them the dresses that maybe they may not or their parents may not be able to afford.”

The young ladies weren’t the only ones to benefit Saturday morning. The teenage boys who were at the soireé received free haircuts from Livingston as well as dress shirts and sports coats for their upcoming prom later this school year, lessons on how to tie a tie and financial literacy classes. Many other people and organizations were able to provide help as well including Greater Jamaica Development Corporation; Interskin Beauty cosmetics based out of Jamaica Market; the Key Club community service organization; the Bellmore-Merrick High School District community; Girlfriend Pathways to Empower and Pa-Nash, “Eurosoul” restaurant and lounge based out of Rosedale, who not only provided catering for the event, but also provided an image consultant ensuring that the young women and men chose their prom night attire with the best of results. All of the students who were apart of the Saturday’s festivities were formally invited to even more opportunities later this year.