Dresses for a Difference

The final day of the 2013 Dresses for a Cause Prom Boutique was a success!

The event provides affordable, new and gently used prom dresses just in time for the big dance.

Proceeds of the event go to free Stewards of Children Sexual Abuse Prevention Training for adults.

"These dresses are very nice and a lot of them still have the tags on them and it's just a great way to get money and help these kids out in our community,” says Chelsea Johns, a Hershey Senior.
“I encourage people to come out and anytime there's a community event where you can raise money to help programs. I just encourage people to come out and be a part of it."

Thursday, 21 February 2013 

Dresses for a Cause Benefits Local Children                  

Written by Beatriz Reyna

Prom and wedding season is quickly approaching and if you haven't found a dress...then you might want to pay attention to this next story.

Beatriz Reyna shows us how you can look fancy without breaking the bank all while helping local children.

Racks and racks of discounted prom dresses will be on display at the second annual Dresses for a Cause Prom Boutique.

“They can come in and find things that they like, try them on and make sure that they fit and they can go out and have a fun prom and they don't have worry about coming up with $100 or $200 for a dress,” says Matt Fosket, Child Abuse Prevention Council Member.

From size 0 to 12 and beyond, there is something for everyone and at the right price.

“We have new and gently used dresses for $20 or less,” says Fosket.

But this sale is special for another reason

All of the gowns are being sold to fund children sexual assault prevention training.

“The Stewards of Children is open to the public on April 27th so its three hour training that teaches adults how to react responsibly. We need to be open and we need to talk as adults with each other about the possibility and what they can do to stop and prevent it and we need to talk to our children too. We need to be educating them on their bodies and correct anatomy and what to do if somebody touches them or somebody does something they feel is inappropriate or makes them uncomfortable,” says Fosket.

Last year about $1,000 was raised.

“We had people lined up at the door about an hour ahead of time,” says Fosket.

This year, they are hoping to raise that amount, if not more.

“We even have people coming looking for dresses to attend a wedding or things like that so it goes beyond just prom,” says Fosket.

The 2013 Dresses for a Cause Prom Boutique will be held on Friday, February 22nd from 5:30pm - 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday, February 23rd from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the Platte River Mall.

And shoppers will also receive 50 percent off dry cleaning for their dress at Orr's Dry Cleaning.

Dresses for a Cause Prom Boutique returning for 2013

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Raise hope at the big dance

Matt Fosket, advocacy coordinator with the Bridge of Hope, stands in front of a closet of dresses from last year's Dresses for a Cause Prom Boutique in this January 2012 file photo. Dresses for a Cause has returned again this year.

Posted: Saturday, January 26, 2013 12:00 am | Updated: 3:23 pm, Mon Jan 28, 2013.

By DIANE WETZEL
dwetzel@nptelegraph.com | 0 comments

Posted on January 26, 2013

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  by Diane Wetzel

Lincoln County Child Abuse Prevention Council's Dresses for a Cause Prom Boutique was such a success in 2012 that the organization is bringing it back again.

"It was a pretty big hit last year as a fundraiser," said Matt Fosket, advocacy coordinator with Bridge of Hope Child Advocacy Center in North Platte and member of the council. "We did well and were very pleased with the response we got. A lot of people saw a need for something like this and the response we got from the community was huge."

The boutique features new and gently used prom dresses and accessories for $20 or less. Shoppers also receive 50 percent off dry cleaning from Orr's Dry Cleaning.

The event will be at the Platte River Mall on Friday, Feb. 22, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 23, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"We added Friday evening for people who may not be able to come during the day on Saturday," Fosket said.

Proceeds from the event help provide free Stewards of Children Sexual Abuse Prevention training to adults in the community.

Stewards of Children is a nationwide program that has been shown to increase knowledge, improve attitudes and change child-protective behavior.

Topics included in the training are facts about the problem of child sexual abuse, types of situations where child abuse might happen, simple, effective strategies for protecting children, the importance of talking about prevention of sexual abuse with children and other adults and the signs of sexual abuse.

"We are planning on opening up the training to more of the general public," Fosket said.

Fosket said he is working with Mid Plains Center For Enterprise at North Platte Community College and expects to offer the training later this spring, in addition to his work with local organizations such as Voices for Families, Rape and Domestic Abuse program volunteers and Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA.)

Donations for the event are still coming in, Fosket said.

"We expect to have at least 250 dresses available," he said

Preventing sexual abuse is focus of fundraiser

By DIANE WETZEL
dwetzel@nptelegraph.com | Posted: Tuesday, October 16, 2012 12:00 am

To prepare for the 2013 Dresses for a Cause Prom Boutique, the Lincoln County Child Abuse Prevention Council will host a donation day on Saturday, Oct. 20, at the Platte River Mall.

Volunteers will be there to accept donations of new and gently-used dresses from 1-3 p.m.

The 2012 Dresses for a Cause event was successful in raising money for the Stewards of Children Sexual Abuse Prevention Training and in providing dresses for teenagers at $20 or less.

"People are already talking about the next one," said Matt Fosket, event coordinator for Lincoln County Child Abuse Prevention Council. "The first one was successful as far as the money it brought in, but also for helping kids find dresses for $20 or less."

The 2013 Dresses for a Cause Prom Boutique will be on Saturday, Feb. 23 at the mall and on Tuesday, Feb. 26, in the evening.

Money raised by the event helps pay for Stewards of Children Sexual Abuse Prevention training.

"The training is geared toward any groups or organizations that work with kids," Fosket said. "It provides information on questions that need to be asked and what the signs of abuse are, and what to do when you suspect child abuse or when a child discloses abuse."

Cost of the training is usually $15 per person, but fundraising efforts such as the Prom Boutique help defray that expense, Fosket said.

Fosket has done Stewards of Children Sexual Abuse Prevention training with local day care providers, church groups and school parent groups.

"It is a three-hour session, so if people are willing to commit to spending the time, money from fundraising pays for their class materials," he said.

If interested in scheduling training, contact Fosket at (308) 534-4064.

Lincoln County Child Abuse Prevention Council's mission is to promote a healthy community dedicated to breaking the cycle of child abuse and neglect and promoting the safety of all children.