RALEIGH, N.C. — Prom season is rapidly approaching again and in preparation for it, an organization in Raleigh just held the prom dress shopping event of the year — and it was all free.

Girls shop for prom dresses inside the second annual Say Yes to the Prom Dress event. (Spectrum News 1/Rachel Boyd)

Many girls dream of feeling like Cinderella on their prom day, but for some families finding the money to pay for a dress makes achieving that dream close to impossible. 

“I think this is more than just getting a prom dress, this is about community,” Jennifer Payne, the founder of the “I Am Worth It” Foundation, said. “It’s about giving. It’s about coming together.”

Together, the “I Am Worth It” Foundation and SAGE collected more than 800 new and gently used dresses to host the second annual Say Yes to the Prom Dress event in Raleigh. Any high school girl could come to the event and pick out a dress free of charge, no questions asked.

“It’s so important to us to make sure that we have enough dresses for everybody so that they can find that dress of their dreams,” Payne said. 

Payne grew up as an at-risk youth herself and knew the disappointment of missing out on prom due to financial circumstances. Her goal is making sure no other girl ever experiences that.  

“I was one of these girls,” Payne said. “Nobody wants to have that tough decision to say, ‘We can’t afford to send you to prom this year.’ That’s just something that nobody should have to miss out on. It’s such a milestone for teenagers.”

A girl smiles with her newly picked out prom dress. (Spectrum News 1/Rachel Boyd)

Payne said last year’s event gave away over 100 dresses, saving families over $30,000. The event also extends beyond dresses and includes other things girls may need for the big dance including shoes, nails, and jewelry. 

“We average a prom dress costs around $300, plus the addition of hair, makeup, nails, so we tried to find a solution for that,” Payne said. “The smiles are so rewarding and we are so excited to have them and see the smiles and know that we’re actually making a difference in somebody’s life.”

“I Am Worth It” collects dresses year-round and is always looking for volunteers, sponsors and vendors for the next year’s event. 

“We couldn’t make this happen without the partnership of our community,” Payne said. “We have no budget for this event, so it comes from the generosity of people buying racks off of our wish list, dressing rooms off of our wish list, donating their services, donating food.”

A girl shows off the prom dress of her dreams in the Say Yes to the Prom Dress photo booth. (Spectrum News 1/Rachel Boyd)