Good cause for a new dress

Courtney Harwager, of North Platte, found the perfect dress at the Dresses for a Cause Prom Boutique at the Platte River Mall on Saturday. The event, benefiting Darkness to Light Stewards of Children training, continues today.

By DIANE WETZEL

Published: Sunday, February 12, 2012 4:06 AM CST

dwetzel@nptelegraph.com

On a bitter cold Saturday, thoughts of spring brought people to the Platte River Mall to shop at the first Dresses for a Cause Prom Boutique, sponsored by the Lincoln County Child Abuse Prevention Council with help from the Bridge of Hope Child Advocacy Center and the North Platte Rape and Domestic Abuse Program.

"We had a line of people waiting when we arrived first thing this morning," said Matt Fosket, advocate and volunteer coordinator for Bridge of Hope. "We had people bringing in donations and other folks buying the dresses right out of the donor's hands."

In total, around 200 dresses were donated to the event, which continues today from noon until 4 p.m.

North Platte High School student Courtney Harwager discovered a lovely black gown that she plans to wear next year to her junior prom.

"We came both for the cause and the bargains," Harwager said. "My church group has made pillows for Bridge of Hope, they help kids who need it."

Many of the dresses were donated by local businesses, including JJ's Bridal, which gave 30 dresses to the event. No dress costs more than $20 and many are new, and some are gently used, Fosket said. Each dress purchase receives a coupon for 50 percent off the cost of dry cleaning from Orr's Dry Cleaning.

Proceeds from the sale will be used to fund Darkness to Light Stewards of Children training. Statistics suggest that one in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused by age 18 and that 90 percent of children who are sexually abused are violated by someone they know and trust. This includes youth leaders of all types, such as teachers, coaches, ministers, mentors, counselors, parents and other youth.

Stewards of Children is a nationwide sexual abuse prevention training program that educates adults to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse, according to the groups website,www.advocatehealth.com. The program is designed for organizations that serve children and youth, and for any and all adults who are interested in protecting children.

Fosket will lead a training session that will be open to the public on Saturday, May 5 at Bridge of Hope, 410 West Fifth Street. The workshop will be from 9 a.m. until noon, and cost is $15 per person to cover the price of materials.

All participants must pre-register by May 2 by contacting Fosket at (308) 534-4064.

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Glitz for good

Matt Fosket, advocate and volunteer coordinator for Bridge of Hope Child Advocacy Center, stands with a closet full of dresses that will be sold at an upcoming fundraiser to benefit the Stewards of Children Sexual Abuse Prevention training program.

By DIANE WETZEL

Published: Friday, January 27, 2012

dwetzel@nptelegraph.com

Prom season will soon be here. Those magical nights of music and dancing are made perfect for many young ladies by finding the perfect frock. Often serving as a young person's first formal event, stress about the cost of a dress should not detract from the excitement.

The Lincoln County Child Abuse Prevention Council is sponsoring the first Dresses for a Cause event, scheduled on Feb. 11-12 at the Platte River Mall. More than 200 dresses, new and used, shoes and jewelry will be available for sale for $20 or less.

"It's the first year we have done this as a fundraiser, so we didn't know what to expect," said Matt Fosket, advocate and volunteer coordinator for Bridge of Hope Child Advocacy Center.

JJ's Bridal has donated around 30 dresses, Fosket said, and other members of the community have brought in the rest.

"We've received a lot of nice, contemporary dresses," he said. "I'm no expert, so I had some women and teenagers come see them and they approve."

Shoppers will receive a 50 percent off coupon for dry cleaning from Orr's Dry Cleaning.

"Some of them are used, so if people are concerned about them being worn before, they can get them cleaned and it will be just like getting a brand new dress," he said.

Proceeds from the event will go to providing free Stewards of Children Sexual Abuse Prevention training to adults in Lincoln County.

"It is a scientifically-based national program we started in November 2011 that emphasizes the education of parents and other adults on sexual abuse prevention," Fosket said. "In the past, we have focused our education on prevention and reporting on children, which puts a great deal of pressure on a child."

Presented by the Darkness to Light non-profit, whose goal is to end childhood sexual abuse, the training is ideal for any group who works with children, Fosket said.

"It gives adults the tools they need to recognize the signs of abuse and to know what to do when a child discloses abuse," he said.

Dresses for a Cause will be inside the mall, next to Herberger's and will be open on Sat. Feb. 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sunday, Feb. 12, from noon to 4 p.m. Information about Lincoln County Child Abuse Prevention Council is available at www.lincolncountychildren.com. To learn more about scheduling Stewards of Children Sexual Abuse Prevention training, contact Fosket at (308) 534-4064.

Dresses For A Cause

The Lincoln County Child Abuse Prevention Council is excited to announce the “Dresses For A Cause” prom dress fundraising event.  The Council is now seeking donations of new or gently used prom, bridesmaid or other formal dresses as well as shoes and jewelry that will be made available this winter at the Dresses For A Cause Prom Boutique at the Platte River Mall for an average of $20.00 each, just in time for prom.  Proceeds from Dresses For A Cause will go towards providing free Stewards of Children Sexual Abuse Prevention Training within Lincoln County.  Stewards of Children is a revolutionary, research-based sexual abuse prevention training program developed by Darkness to Light that educates adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to the epidemic of child sexual abuse.  Donations for Dresses For A Cause may be dropped off at the Rape and Domestic Abuse Program (RDAP) office at 101 S. Chestnut, Suite #2 or the Platte River Mall office between 9:00am – 5:00pm.  Please have used dresses dry cleaned prior to donation.  For more information, contact Matt Fosket at the Bridge of Hope Child Advocacy Center at 308-534-4064 or email: matt@lincolncountychildren.com.  

See the Dresses For A Cause window display at the Platte River Mall!

Dresses For A Cause

KNOP NEWS, July 24, 2011

View the video here.

After prom night, the expensive dress often times collects dust in a closet.  But now, that dress can help raise money for a good cause.

Dresses sitting in your closet, possibly only worn once, what to do with them.  Matt Fosket, a member of the Lincoln County Child Abuse Council wants your donation.  He's organizing a new fundraiser Dresses For a Cause.  He says, “It's something that been done in other communities in Nebraska and across the country."

Over the next few months Fosket will be collecting dresses and in late Febuary, early March a boutique will be opened in the Platte River Mall.  Dresses originally bought for a pretty penny will sell for around twenty dollars.  Fosket says, “We're just kind of taking anything and we'll let the kids and they can come and check them out for themselves and see if there is something they like and hopefully they can leave there with something that they'll feel good about."

Tami Hoatson, the owner of JJ's Bridal, is kick starting the project with a twenty-two dress contribution.  She says people are constantly asking her to organize something similar to this, she's glad Fosket finally put a plan in action.  "I just wanted to give a sizeable donation I think it's a great cause. I knew we had the dresses up there so why not give them to someone that can use them."

They're not only looking for dresses but also shoes, jewelry, and even some extra hands.  Some dresses will need dry cleaning and some repairs.  Fosket says a broken zipper shouldn't stop you from giving.  “We're looking for just about anything, if it's in decent shape, gently used, even dresses that are new still from the store."

They hope to collect a couple hundred dresses.  The money made from the boutique will go towards providing scholarships for the Stewards of Children sexual abuse training.

If you have dresses to donate you can take those to the Rape and Domestic Abuse Programs Office at 101 South Chestnut or the Platte River Mall office.  Both locations are open 9 to 5, Monday through Friday.  Or you can contact Matt at the Bridge of Hope at 308-534-4064.