The Corsage ProjectSixteen years of making a difference!

Senior Prom – a traditional rite of passage for many high school students! The dress – the shoes – the sparkling accessories – the fun of going shopping for all the bits and pieces to make the dream complete! Friends going to Prom together before graduation and separating on their own life paths. Unfortunately, not all young women can attend their prom – not because they don’t want to, but because of financial restraints. How would you feel if you were in her place? 

BeadFX has been a staunch supporter of The Corsage Project by promoting and organizing open sessions that individuals can come in and create jewellery. Created in 2000, The Corsage Project is a community-based program of the Children's Aid Foundation organized by a committee of volunteers from the Toronto area. The Corsage Project helps economically disadvantaged high school students attend their prom by providing free formal-wear. Each year, they assist 250 to 300 young women who are graduating from Toronto high schools at their Boutique Ball – an incredible event that brings together women of all ages to share in the excitement of the day and celebrate the achievements of our participants.

On this special day, event space is transformed into a giant shopping bazaar, featuring hundreds of dresses, organized by size and colour, and tables showcasing shoes, purses, jewellery and accessories such as pashminas.

Corsage Girls shop the various wares with their personal shopper until they complete their look and are then treated to a mini-makeover and goodie bags filled with gifts from our sponsors.

 

You can help!

Do you have a piece of jewellery that can revived and upcycled? Pull it out and give it new life! If you need ideas, bring it in to one of our Open Beading Nights or Afternoon Bead Teas that will be dedicated to creating jewellery for the Corsage Project. In addition to the staff who will be on hand, other participants will be happy to give ideas. The more sparkle – the better!

Please drop off your completed donations by 6:00pm on April 6. All jewellery will be picked-up by a Corsage Project volunteer on April 8. 


The following open sessions at BeadFX will be dedicated to creating jewellery for the Corsage Project: 

Open Bead Nights

6:00 - 8:00pm
Wednesday, March 23
Wednesday, March 30
Wednesday, April 6

Afternoon Bead Teas
1:00 - 3:00pm
Thursday, March 24
Thursday, March 31

Everyone is welcome to come out to any of these sessions and help! We recommend that you call ahead to let us know you're coming.

The Corsage Project: Making an Impact One Dress at a Time

Senior Prom – a traditional rite of passage for many high school students! The dress – the shoes – the sparkling accessories – the fun of going shopping for all the bits and pieces to make the dream complete! Friends going to Prom together before graduation and separating on their own life paths. Unfortunately, not all young women can attend their prom – not because they don’t want to, but because of financial restraints. How would you feel if you were in her place?

This year marks the 10^th Anniversary of BeadFX working with the Corsage Project to help these young women realize the dream of going to Senior Prom. Created in 2000, The Corsage Project is a community-based program of the Children's Aid Foundation organized by a committee of volunteers from the Toronto area. The Corsage Project helps economically disadvantaged high school students attend their prom by providing free formal-wear. Each year, they assist approximately 250 young
women who are graduating from Toronto high schools at their Boutique Ball – an incredible event that brings together women of all ages to share in the excitement of the day and celebrate the achievements of our participants.

On this special day, event space is transformed into a giant shopping bazaar, featuring hundreds of dresses, organized by size and colour, and tables showcasing shoes, purses, jewellery and accessories.

Corsage Girls shop the various wares with their personal shopper until they complete their look and are then treated to a mini-makeover and goodie bags filled with gifts from our sponsors.

You can help!

Do you have a piece of jewellery that can revived and upcycled? Pull it out and give it new life! If you need ideas, bring it in to one of our Open Beading Nights or Afternoon Bead Teas that will be dedicated to creating jewellery for the Corsage Project. In addition to the staff who will be on hand, other participants will be happy to give ideas. The more sparkle – the better!

The following open sessions at BeadFX will be dedicated to creating jewellery for the Corsage Project:

Open Beading Night
Wednesday, March 25; 6:00 – 8:00pm
Wednesday, April 1; 6:00 – 8:00pm
Wednesday, April 15: 6:00 – 8:00pm

Afternoon Bead Teas
Thursday, March 26; 1:00 – 3:00pm
Thursday, April 2; 1:00 – 3:00pm
Thursday, April 9; 1:00 – 3:00pm
Thursday, April 16; 1:00 – 3:00pm

Everyone is welcome to come out to any of these sessions and help! We recommend that you call ahead to let us know you are coming.

Please drop off your completed donations by 8pm on Thursday, April 16. All jewellery will be picked-up by a Corsage Project volunteer on Friday, April 17.

The Corsage Project also provide scholarship opportunities for disadvantaged youth to get post-secondary education. If you would like to become directly involved with the Corsage Project or would like more information, you can go to their website at www.corsageproject.ca.

Update on the Corsage Project

Just got an email from the organizers at the Corsage Project. The distribution event was this past weekend. The email says in part:

Our event went well and we helped about 270 girls. It was crazy busy, but we did it thanks to the caring and generosity of people like yourselves. I hope one day you will come to the event as a guest just so you can see what your work does for the girls.

Nice to know we all are making a difference!

Haunted by Earrings

Now I'm being haunted by earrings. After last week's post on the topic of earrings - we got a suggestion from the folks at the Corsage Project that, as they ran out of earrings last year when outfitting the girls - that if at all possible, more earrings this year would be very much appreciated!

So, yesterday (Sunday) was one of our Corsage Project Play Days - (next one is Thursday, I think, but check first). So, we focused on earrings! After last week's pondering on the topic of earrings - fashion accessory vs statement - I figured I better go with "fashion accessory." Between us, we made 13 pairs! Plus a bracelet/earring set!

Other donated jewelry has started to arrive too! We're getting off to a good start.

In case you are unfamiliar with it, the Corsage Project is a charity that helps graduating girls with the cost of dresses, jewelry, etc. for their prom. They round up donations from corporate sponsors (like us!) to ensure that girls who've worked hard to graduate, actually get to go to the prom, instead of giving it a miss due to the cost, and the peer pressure. We collect donations of jewelry - and give you a big thank you for your donation in the form of an instore credit for a percent of the amount you spent at our store, that is included in the donated jewelry.

It's fun to sit and make jewelry with others - nattering and sharing stories. You should try it sometime!

Kudos to You: Corsage Project

Kudos to you, all of you who contributed to the Corsage Project.

For those of you not in the know, the Corsage Project is a charity to collect and organize and distribute prom dresses, jewellery, shoes, hair styling, limos, flowers - all the accoutrements of prom night - so that young women who have earned the right to graduate, but might skip the ceremony for financial pressures can still attend and graduate in style and without fear of peer pressure.

Each year, we coordinate donating handmade jewellery so that these girls have a special momento of that special night.

I just received a lovely letter from the foundation, and I wanted to share it with you all because it's your exquisite donations that make this work!

The letter says, in part:

On Sunday, May 4th, young women from across Toronto experienced an afternoon they will never forget. On this special day, the Corsage Project held its annual Boutique Ball at Metro Hall in downtown Toronto.

This year's event was a smashing success. With the help of 200 dedicated volunteers we hosted over 200 girls from high schools across the city. Each girl was paired with a personal shopper who helped them select a gown, shoes and accessories. They also received a session with a make-up artist and hair stylist, a professional portrait, refreshments and generous gift bags.

It was an incredible experience for all in attendance to witness the transformation of self-confidence with a glamourous dress, new shoes and companionship. The transformation was stunning and left each volunteer with a sense of reflection and a most memorable experience.

Every year we are able to make a small difference in the lives of a few deserving young women. This would not be possible without the continued support of generous sponsors like you!

So - you can all picture yourself - standing to the side of the hall - watching those girls bloom - and again, as they arrive at their prom - pretty, a little giddy with excitement - glowing with the confidence and assurance. You have made a difference. Thank you.