For nearly 100 deserving students from Dymally High School in Los Angeles, CA, Wednesday was certainly one to remember. Kicking off its sixth year, TLC’s Say Yes to the Prom initiative brought more magic and made more prom dreams come true than ever before. For the first time, fashion icon Betsey Johnson joined TLC’s Monte Durham to host the day of mentoring, prom dress and tuxedo “shopping,” head-to-toe makeovers, and a red carpet runway reveal show to top it all off.
Because the true goals of Say Yes to the Prom extend beyond the glitz and glam, several important partnerships ensured a fulfilling and meaningful day for the students, all of whom are high achievers and class leaders. The Will & Jada Smith Family Foundation (WJSFF) partnered with the cause for the first time to introduce students to their Careers in Entertainment (CIE) program, boosting students from underserved communities and exposing them to careers in entertainment. All 1,000 Say Yes to the Prom participants nationwide will have the opportunity to participate in CIE, and qualified CIE participants will have the opportunity to participate in Say Yes to the Prom events in their cities.
Additionally, representatives from organizations such as the Emma Bowen Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to building a more diverse media industry, attended to offer students internships, scholarships, mentorships and networking opportunities.
Of course, from achieving the perfect prom look to achieving the highest goal, this amazing initiative is made possible by several key partnerships, including Macy’s, AT&T, Paul Mitchell Schools, Men’s Wearhouse, Girly Go Garter, Jessica McClintock, Becca’s Closet and George Worrell Style. We are thrilled to have these partners by our side to help us fulfill our goals of fulfilling more prom dreams across the nation this year than ever before.
If you want to experience the day for yourself, you can tune in to a new, 90-minute SAY YES TO THE PROM special following several students from this year’s Los Angeles, premiering on TLC on Saturday, April 1, followed by an encore on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network on Monday, April 3.
To follow along with the rest of the tour – making stops in Miami, Chicago, New York and Silver Spring – follow @DiscoveryComm and check out #SYTTP on Twitter and Instagram.