Memphis Houses of Worship Create a Magical Night for People with Disabilities

Buoyant bubbles drifted through the air as guests — clad in tuxedos and formal dresses— arrived, walking down a red carpet. The scene is familiar to anyone who’s attended a prom, but on April 25, the remarkable night was hosted not for a high school but for Memphis residents with disabilities.
The Joy Prom, sponsored by a group of local churches, was cooked up by Ashley Parks and Ginna Rauls, both active members in the Memphis special needs community, according to Good Morning America. The two wanted to give people with disabilities a chance to experience a night of primping, pampering and dancing.
They decided to call the evening the Joy Prom because “we decided we like ‘joy’ because that’s what we hope to bring,” Parks told the Huffington Post.
Parks, the special needs ministry director for Christ United Methodist Church, enlisted the help of 350 volunteers to collect donations that would be used to create the quintessential prom experience. Back in March, the duo hosted a prom dress donation drive, and a church member offered to foot the bill for tuxedo rentals from Men’s Warehouse. The community pooled together and even bought an ice sculpture and confectionary bar for the evening.
Guests were greeted on the red carpet by Memphis Grizzlies basketball team announcer Rick Trotter, who recognized them as they arrived by limo. Each host was given a card with their date’s allergies and a list of everything he or she wanted to experience that night.
Female guests could have their nails painted or makeup done while men were able to have their shoes polished. The crowd glittered with tiaras while guests danced the night away. “We didn’t miss anything,” Parks said.
But perhaps what made this prom more special than any other is the age range of its guests. Teenagers as young at 16 mingled alongside a couple in their 60s, giving everyone a chance to experience a night to remember.
“At a certain point people phase out of things but we said, you know what, lets open this up for people over the age of 22 and think of those who may not have experienced an event like this before,” Parks said.
The night was so successful, planning for next year’s prom is already underway. We’re guessing that the 2015 prom will be just as memorable.

This Inspiring Teen Took His Great-Grandmother to Prom

Most high schoolers dream of spending prom with friends, reminiscing on the past four years of school. But 19-year-old Austin Dennison had another idea when it came to the special night. He used it as an opportunity to give his great-grandmother a chance to experience the quintessential American high school tradition.
The senior at Parkway High School in Rockford, Ohio knew his 89-year-old great-grandmother, Delores Dennison, was never afforded the opportunity to attend prom.
“I asked her if she would be my prom date,” Austin told Fox News. “How cool would it be to take my great-grandmother to prom?”
The Eagle Scout; band member; and football, baseball, and basketball athlete took the idea from his economics teacher, who shared a similar story of his brother taking his grandmother to prom. Austin then called his “Granny DD” to pop the question.
MORE: This Admirable Boy Saved For a PlayStation, But Decided to Save Lives Instead
“He was so sweet and adamant about it,” Delores said. “I asked him, ‘But are you sure that you wouldn’t like to take one of the young ladies who could get out there and do everything with you?’ He said no. ‘I want you.’”
The night was as perfect and charming as one could imagine. The young suitor serenaded his great-grandmother with a song and gifted her with a pearl necklace. Delores wore a blue dress and Austin’s father drove the two to a dinner at Bob Evans, one of Delores’s favorite restaurants. Upon their arrival at the dance, the two were introduced at the promenade, where Austin’s classmates give them a standing ovation.
As a stroke survivor with heart trouble, Delores’s energy may have been a bit limited — but that didn’t stop this formerly-spry granny from hitting the dance floor.
“It was wonderful and I just loved all the girls in their fancy gowns and the gentlemen in their tuxedos. It was quite a night,” she said. “Everyone there just could not have been more polite. Everyone got an A+.”
But that wasn’t the only surprise Austin had in store for his great-grandma. The admirable grandson had requested the Frank Sinatra tune “How I love the kisses of Delores,” a song that his great-grandfather used to croon to his great-grandmother.
“I chose that song because Grandpa Ed used to sing that song to her,” Austin said. “We shared that dance. It was really sweet.”

How a Wonderful Mentoring Program Helped 200 Girls Feel Beautiful

Going to the prom is a major milestone in a teenage girl’s life, but the cost of a dress alone can reach into the triple digits — and that’s not even counting the additional expenses of a hair appointment, makeup, and accessories, such as shoes and jewelry.
Just a few years ago, a Philly teen almost didn’t get to go to her prom because she couldn’t afford it, according to 6abc Action News. That’s until the local nonprofit PAL of Philadelphia stepped in to make sure she — and other teens in her same situation — could go.
For the last six years, the organization has held their annual “Cozen PAL Center Prom Boutique” where girls in PAL’s mentoring program can pick out their very own prom dress, shoes and accessories, all for free. The shopping event is sponsored by Philadelphia law firm Cozen O’Connor and Archbishop Carroll High School.
MORE: Meet the Massachusetts Store Owner Who Went the Extra Mile to Help a Girl Feel Beautiful on Prom Night
The ABC affiliate reports that more than 1,000 glittering gowns were collected this year just for the 200 young ladies who belong to the PAL after-school program. “We are constantly selecting and collecting dresses, and then we get a lot of donations — whether its racks, hangers, and support,” organizer Linda Wert of Archbishop Carroll High School told the station. Makeup artists were even on hand to teach the girls how to apply cosmetics for their special day.
PAL, short for Police Athletic League, serves thousands of Philadelphia’s young men and women. According to their website, the nonprofit provides completely free educational, athletic and character-building after-school programs.
Looks like they also play fairy godmothers, too.