Since its inception in 2008, the Giving Gown Foundation has grown from a small community initiative to a powerful force of empowerment, serving over 1,000 girls each year.
Founded by a group of Houston area mothers who saw a need for accessible prom dresses, GGF began by serving 85 girls in its first year. Today, the organization hosts an annual event and maintains a year-round mission extending far beyond providing dresses. GGF offers empowerment workshops, awards over $10,000 in scholarships annually, and supplies feminine hygiene products to schools and nonprofits throughout the Houston area.
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“GGF was founded by some moms in the community who saw a need and had a solution. They knew there were girls who didn’t have access to prom dresses and that their daughters and others had gowns in their closets that they weren’t going to wear again,” said GGF president Bobbi Jo Miller. “The first year they served 85 girls. We have grown into an annual event and year-round mission that serves over 1000 girls each year.”
“Our mission of empowerment has extended beyond the dress,” she added. “We offer empowerment workshops, award $10,000+ in scholarships each year and provide feminine hygiene products to schools and nonprofits in the Houston area.”
Each year, over 600 volunteers, along with partnerships from organizations such as local National Charity League chapters, The Junior League of The Woodlands, 100 Women Who Care CyFair, The Champion Forest Women’s Club, Cypress Woodlands Junior Forum, Darkness Into Goodness, and the Young Men’s Service League, provide crucial manpower and financial support to make the GGF’s boutique possible.
“The Houston community has truly embraced our mission. As a completely volunteer-based organization, the support of the community through donations of gowns, sponsorship dollars and volunteer hours is vital,” Miller said. “We could not do this without our long-term partnerships with Bammel Church of Christ, who provide storage & event space for our Boutique, and Tide Dry Cleaners, who serve as gown drop-off locations throughout the year. Tide Dry Cleaners clean, store and deliver gowns to us.”
Miller explained that GGF relies on the generosity of individual and corporate sponsorships to fund its mission. Thanks to businesses like Twin Eagle, HEB, Gary Greene Realty, The Santiago Team, Kendra Scott, PaperCity, and many others, GGF can fund its Boutique Week and scholarship program.
“Our boutique experience is “More Than the Dress!” We transform the Bammel Teen Center into a “fashion boutique,” so that our girls get the full “shopping experience” of choosing their prom gown. We strive to have thousands of gowns of all sizes, styles, and colors to choose from. Our goal is not for each girl to just get a dress, but for each girl to be able to have a large selection to choose from and find their dream dress,” Milled explained.
Most of their participants come through school groups, where a liaison, such as a teacher, administrator, or counselor, identifies girls needing a gown and registers their school as a group.
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“For our school groups, it is a full-day experience of empowerment and love. Our goal is for each girl to see her full potential and leave knowing she is beautiful, deserving and enough every day of the year, not just on prom night,” Miller said. “Our volunteers shower the girls with love, encouragement and words of wisdom throughout the day.”
Each girl is paired with a volunteer “Fairy Godmother,” which is their version of a personal shopper. Their fairy godmother helps them select gowns to try on and choose their final gown.
“Volunteer seamstresses are on hand to make minor alterations if needed. Princesses can also select accessories to complete their prom look. Each girl attends two empowerment workshops. The first, led by YC Collaborations, focuses on general self-esteem, goal setting, and resources to help them succeed,” Miller said. “The second, led by The Junior League of The Woodlands, focuses on financial empowerment, sharing tools to help them set and achieve financial goals.”
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The last step of the process involves feeding both souls and tummies, where the girls visit the Cafe to receive lunch and snack bags served by volunteers who shower them with kindness.
Volunteers play a crucial role in GGF, with their experiences and motivations driving them to get involved.
“We have a variety of volunteer roles that people can serve in. There is truly a job for everyone, from fairy godmother, seamstress, inventory, cafe, set up and tear down crew... we have a spot for you!” Miller shared. “While each role’s duties are different, the overall experience of connecting with the girls and seeing them light up when they say yes to the dress is so fulfilling. Many of our volunteers sign up for one shift and come back each day of Boutique because they enjoy it so much. Our volunteers walk away with just as much as the girls we serve.”
GGF aims to expand its year-round empowerment mission by distributing more period packs and increasing the number of scholarships awarded each year.
“Our goal is not just to help girls get to college, but to ensure they are successful and thrive while there. We try to stay in contact with them by sending notes of encouragement, and checking on them throughout the school year,” Miller explained. “Thanks to generous sponsors, we have been able to offer some “alumni” scholarships to past recipients to ensure they can stay in college and graduate.”
Miller shared a story highlighting the impact of GGF on the lives of the girls they serve.
“We had some “full circle” moments at our 2024 boutique when we had a past princess come back to volunteer as a fairy godmother,” Miller said. “We also had a scholarship recipient and her mother volunteer as part of our setup team.”
People can join the GGF volunteer database by registering at https://givinggown.membershiptoolkit.com/ or by contacting volunteer@givinggown.org.
“This is the best way to stay in the know on all things GGF and to sign up for volunteer shifts for our Prom Boutique or other opportunities throughout the year,” Miller said. “Individuals and groups can register to volunteer. Volunteering with friends and colleagues is always more fun and we have several organizations and businesses, who sign up together and serve as a team during Boutique Week.”
Dates to remember
Boutique week 2025
- February 11-15, 2025
- School Group and Individual registration will open in the fall of 2024.
- Volunteer registration will open in late 2024.
Scholarship application 2025
- Opening Date: Fall 2024
Boutique week 2025 registration:
- Opening date: Late 2024
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Brief job descriptions:
- Fairy Godmother: Personal shopper
- Inventory: Return gowns to racks, help stock racks
- Cafe: Serve lunch and snack bags
- Seamstress: Alter gowns
- Set up/tear down: Transform the Teen Center at Bammel Church of Christ into a fashion boutique, moving in thousands of gowns, complete with dressing rooms, lighting, and accessory displays. Male volunteers are allowed for set up and tear down.
Additional volunteer opportunities:
- Inventory workdays
- Period project packing shifts