Putting the ‘Fair’ Back in the Fairytale

1. Putting the ‘Fair’ Back in the Fairytale Project Directors: Marian Riner, LCSW, Fayetteville Public Schools, Fayetteville, AR Shay E. Hopper, MAT, Woodland Jr High School, Fayetteville, AR NAEHCY Annual Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, November 5 – 8, 2011

2. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Project Overview and Mission Overview - The Fayetteville High School (FHS) Glass Slipper Prom Project (GSPP/ the ‘Project’) is a charitable venture of Fayetteville Public Schools and Fayetteville High School (FHS), and was created to serve actively enrolled students of Fayetteville High School. The Project is operated by two employees of the Fayetteville Public School system who volunteer their time to the Project. Mission – The mission of the Project is to serve students of low socio-economic status so that all can equally participate in the traditional rite of passage of attending high school prom.

3. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Who We Are… • Fayetteville, AR is the county seat of Washington County, and the third largest city in Arkansas. • The city is centrally located within the county and is home to the University of Arkansas. • In the 2010 census, Fayetteville had a population of 73,580. The racial makeup of the city was 86.50% White, 5.11% Black or African American, 1.26% Native American, 2.56% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 1.99% from other races, and 2.42% from two or more races. 4.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

4. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Who We Are… • Fayetteville was the second best educated city in Arkansas in the Census, proportionately, with 44.8% of adults age 25 or older holding an associate degree or higher, and 41.2% of adults possessing a baccalaureate degree or higher. • However, the city had the highest percentage of adults with masters, doctorate, or professional degrees (17.9%).

5. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Who We Are… • The median income for a household in the city was $31,345, and the median income for a family was $45,074. • The per capita income for the city was $18,311. • 19.9% of the population and 11.4% of families were below the poverty line. • Out of the total population, 19.7% of those under the age of 18 were living below the poverty line.

6. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Who We Are… • The racial makeup of the city is: • 86.50% White • 5.11% Black or African American • 1.26% Native American • 2.56% Asian • 0.16% Pacific Islander • 1.99% from other races • 2.42% from two or more races • 4.86% Hispanic or Latino of any race

7. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Who We Are… • Fayetteville Schools • total free and reduced 41.4% (2010) • total enrollment 8,899 students last year • 154 students in FIT   • Individuals served through the FPS food pantry/clothing closet this year ~ 300 • Fayetteville High School • student enrollment 1,812 • free/reduced #'s  26% (however, FHS has off campus lunch and most FHS students will not complete FRL forms)

8. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Project History • The FHS Glass Slipper Prom Project began seven years ago in the office of then Fayetteville High School (FHS) counselor Leigh Hudson who had a desire to help girls in need, attend prom. • After two years of fitting young ladies in her office, Leigh secured space in a former elementary building to use as the “Glass Slipper Room.”

9. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Project History • In the fourth year of the Project, Leigh married and moved to central Arkansas and Marian Riner, FIT Coordinator for Fayetteville Public Schools (FPS), and Shay Hopper, an FPS junior high teacher and former Project ‘personal shopper’ volunteer, assumed leadership of the Project. • Two years ago, after tremendous growth and success, the Project was granted a larger facility by FPS which allowed the Project to serve even more students in need. • In the last three years, the Project has grown from serving 34 students, to 52, to 78 in 2011.

10. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Project History • The Glass Slipper Room is now located on FPS ALLPS center campus (alternative high school) and has a reception area, three dressing rooms, accessory room and two large stock rooms.

11. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR The Process • The Glass Slipper Project process includes student referrals and eligibility; invitations; shopping days; volunteers; Sparkle Saturday; prom tickets and returning items. • Student referrals and eligibility are determined by free and reduced lunch rosters; teacher, counselor and/or director referrals, and those who have been previously served. • Only juniors and seniors are invited to be served by the Project.

12. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR The Process • The Glass Slipper Project invites eligible students through a formal invitation process. Invites are hand-delivered to students and they must confirm their interest by a specific deadline and schedule a shopping appointment. • Appointments on shopping days are scheduled by the Project directors and the administrative assistant at the attendance office of Fayetteville High School. • Google Docs is the application used to store and share appointment information between all campuses.

13. The Invitation

14. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Shopping Days • Upon arrival at Boutique Shopping Day, each student shopper will be assigned an (adult) personal shopper (volunteer) to assist her with the selection of her dress, jewelry, shoes, etc. • Each student shopper checks in at the boutique desk immediately upon arrival. • Shoppers are allotted 30 minutes of shopping time to make dress selections and try on garments and 15 minutes to select accessories (shoes, purse, jewelry).

15. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Shopping Days • If she is not able to make her selection within the allotted appointment time, she is welcome to schedule a return appointment. • If a student arrives more than 15 minutes late for her scheduled appointment, she will need to schedule another appointment or can politely wait in the waiting area for another cancellation or a ‘work-in’ opportunity if another shopper finishes early. • Those arriving within the 15-minute grace period, will be allowed to shop, but will not be afforded extra time as not to delay other’s appointments.

16. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Shopping Days • If any items a student shopper selects are in need of dry cleaning or alteration, those services will be provided by GSPP and the student shopper can pick up her ready items at the counseling office of their campus. • If none of the items need to be cleaned or altered, students will be allowed to take selections with them at the conclusion of the shopping appointment. Students are responsible for their care while they are in their possession.

17. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Shopping Days • Any item which is damaged while in a student’s possession will not be replaced and cannot be returned to the Project and will limit or end that student’s ability to again receive future GSPP services. • Due to lack of space and *privacy concerns, each student shopper will be welcome to bring one adult guest to GSPP. Adult guests will be asked to sit in the waiting area and the student shopper will be able to come out and model selections if she chooses.

18. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Volunteers • This is what truly makes the Project successful. • The GSPP welcomes adult female community volunteers who are at least twenty-four years of age to assist with the project. These guidelines are in place to ensure the privacy and comfort of the student shopper. • Volunteers are recruited through several channels: • School district employees • Civic organizations and volunteer groups • Established volunteer referrals • Facebook

19. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Volunteers School admin and community volunteers Husband volunteers! UA PanHellenic volunteer Church volunteer School district faculty volunteer Church volunteer

20. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Volunteers • Confidentiality – all volunteers will be asked to respect the confidentiality of all student shoppers by: • not discussing student identity or student shopper’s family’s identity with others outside of the Project or questioning the student about siblings, homelife, etc. while shopping/interacting • not discussing dress origin (if known, please do not identify donation source of dress) • not pointing out or discussing donations made by themselves or someone they know (if known, please do not identify donation source of any items)

21. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Volunteers • Confidentiality – all volunteers will be asked to respect the confidentiality of all student shoppers by: • not discussing the fact that the student shopper is receiving services through the GSPP with others not associated with the Project. • volunteers should feel free to share with the others in the community about the generously donated time one has given to the Project, share about the experience in general, and share the purpose of the Project, but are asked not to specifically identify who was served or describe the dress(es) in detail to those outside the Project.

22. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Volunteers • Confidentiality – all volunteers will be asked to respect the confidentiality of all student shoppers by: • not bringing cameras of photo/recording equipment of any kind (incl phones). Photos may be taken during the course of the Project by Project directors, however, none will be taken of student shopper faces or of specific (close-up) dress inventory. Guests - Due to lack of space and privacy concerns, volunteers are asked not to bring any guests to GSPP on shopping and/or Beauty Days.

23. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Volunteers Junior Volunteers - Two Junior Volunteer (JV) positions are available (two for the morning shift and two for the afternoon shift) on each shopping day and Sparkle Saturday JVs will be scheduled as needed. JVs are well-behaved, cheerful young ladies, ages seven to ten, who are accompanied by an adult volunteer. JVs will be responsible for tasks such as stuffing gift bags, emptying trash cans, bringing water to shoppers, getting garment bags for dresses, straightening shoes and jewelry, and being available to assist personal shoppers. This is an excellent opportunity to expose young ladies to service-oriented projects.

24. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Volunteers • Orientation – each volunteer will be asked to participate in GSPP orientation prior to her shift. Orientation will consist of meeting the director(s), a brief overview of the project, purpose of the project, tour of the facility, confidentiality review, Sparkle Saturday guidelines and Q & A. • Duties – Volunteers may be asked to serve as: • organizers (clean, arrange, stock) shoes, accessories, jewelry, etc. • closet fairies (re-hang and straighten dresses on racks, check for damage to dresses, place dresses on correct size racks, etc). • Cinderella – help with general cleaning duties

25. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Volunteers • Food and drink – In order to preserve the property of GSPP (dresses, flooring, fabrics, furniture, etc.) volunteers and shoppers are asked to refrain from bringing in outside food and beverages to the GSPP room. To protect fabrics, student shoppers will not be allowed to chew gum while in shopping or dressing rooms. Water and boutique-appropriate snacks will be provided for shoppers and volunteers by GSPP for enjoyment in the boutique lobby, not in shopping areas.

26. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Volunteers • Seamstresses – ARE NEEDED and we love them. The GSPP welcomes on-site seamstress volunteers for each three-hour shift on shopping days. We will also be happy to drop-off and pick-up dresses in need of alteration to the home of the volunteer seamstresses. Please contact project directors to volunteer for this critical position. • Volunteer hours – • Volunteers will be asked to serve in full three-hour shifts. • Volunteers will be asked to check in for each shift 30 mins prior to the beginning of each shift (8:30 and 1:30) • Volunteer shifts are from 9 – 12 and 2 – 5 on Boutique Shopping Days.

27. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Sparkle Saturday • Sparkle Saturdayis the actual day of prom. It is a day of beauty and pampering for the student clients. • Students register for a Sparkle Saturday appointment during their boutique shopping day. • Sparkle Saturday volunteers are professional hair stylists, make-up artists and nail technicians who are referred by Project volunteers and through the Project’s Facebook page. Volunteer Stylists

28. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Sparkle Saturday • Sparkle Saturdayclients should be sure to be freshly showered and shaved for Prom day. • She should arrive at the Boutique salon with no make-up; clean, dry hair; nail/toe polish removed and scrubbed and trimmed fingernails and toenails; and with a shirt that buttons up and down completely so it will not affect an updo when removed to put on a dress. • Sparkle clients should also consider bringing a photo for the stylist to show her the type of hairstyle or make-up look that is preferred.

29. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Sparkle Saturday • Sparkle Saturdayclients check in at the boutique salon desk immediately upon arrival. Each Sparkle client will need to plan to be at The Glass Slipper Room 2 – 4 hours and properly arrange for transportation. Each Sparkle client should EAT BEFORE arrival. • If a Sparkle client arrives more than 15 minutes late for her scheduled appointment, she will be considered a ‘work-in’ and can politely wait in the boutique lobby for an opening.

30. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Sparkle Saturday • Sparkle Saturdayguests – Due to lack of boutique waiting room space, privacy concerns and use of a variety of styling equipment, Sparkle clients will not be allowed to bring a guest to Sparkle Saturday. • Clients are dropped off for their scheduled appointments five minutes early.

31. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Prom Tickets • Students served by GSPP will receive ONE free prom ticket to attend the event. If a ticket is lost, transferred, given away or stolen, GSPP cannot issue replacements. Corsages, boutonnieres, guest tickets, prom t-shirts, prom photos, meals, and/or transportation are NOT provided by FHS GSPP.

32. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Returning Items • FHS juniors who plan to participate in GSPP her senior year are REQUIRED to return all boutique items that were signed out to her (dress, shoes, jewelry, handbag). FHS seniors are allowed to keep all items if they so choose. • If she chooses not to return any of her borrowed items, she will not be invited to participate in GSSP her senior year. • If a student is referred to GSPP but does not choose her dress, shoes, etc., from the project, she is still welcome to participate in Sparkle Saturday if she so desires.

33. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Development • Grant-writing, donations, volunteers, building relationships with community groups and communication are all essential to the development and sustainability of the Project. • Identifying and evaluating community resources who are a proper fit with the Project is critical. • Suggested organizations include: • Junior Civic League • Junior League • Chamber of Commerce Leadership groups • University PanHellenic groups • Women’s groups such as ‘Womenade’ • Pageant organizations • Beauty salons

34. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Development • Communicationis also a critical tool in developing and promoting a successful Project. • Facebook, Twitter, school district webpage and any social media is vital to a prom project’s success. • FHS Glass Slipper Prom Project Facebook Page • KNWA Morning News ‘Doing Good’ segment • KNWA FHS GSPP • Arkansas Democrat Gazette feature • AR Dem Gaz FHS GSPP • Mutual of Omaha ‘aha Moment’ • University of Arkansas Traveler story • AR Traveler FHS GSPP • University of Arkansas TV segment FHS Bulldog TV segment • FPS blog

35. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Development • Donations,like volunteers, are critical. • Communication and media are critical to solicit donations from the community. • Volunteer groups, such as university PanHellenic, and local department and bridal stores are also amazing resources for donated items. • This year, the FHS Glass Slipper Prom Project will also be asking senior girls not served by the Project to donate their prom dresses as a gesture of goodwill and to show their support for their peers. This also builds a volunteer spirit in our students. • Donations are accepted all year long.

36. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Roles of Directors • The FHS Glass Slipper Prom Project has a 2-tieered director structure. • The director manages Project budgeting and finance • serves as the coordination liaison with the high school • Client identification • Invitation delivery • Appointment scheduling • Drop-off and pick up of dresses • Answering questions for student clients before scheduled appointment

37. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Roles of Directors • The FHS Glass Slipper Prom Project has a 2-tieered director structure. • The co-director manages communications and media relations • Both • collect and solicit donations • participate in media interviews • represent the Project at community events • develop and maintain policy • work on every shopping day and Sparkle Saturday • recruit, schedule, coordinate and train volunteers • maintain the facility and inventory

38. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Future Plans • The FHS Glass Slipper Prom Project in the next five years… • To develop a signature fundraiser to sustain the future of the program. • To fully integrate male students into the service aspect of the Project. • To develop a Board of Directors to guide the Project. • Expansion beyond the bounds of our school district.

39. The Glass Slipper Prom Project, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, AR Questions?? • We are happy to share ideas and information to help you… • “Put the ‘Fair’ Back in the Fairytale…” • Marian Riner marian.riner@fayar.net • Shay Hopper shay.hopper@fayar.net