The Cinderella Project is like a modern-day fairy tale for girls who cannot afford to go to their school prom, but instead of a fairy godmother granting their wishes, students and staff are donating lightly used homecoming, prom and even bridesmaids’ dresses to the cause.

A local community council sponsored the project, setting up various donation centers where girls can deliver their used dresses. From there, they are taken to a boutique where the council will categorize and size the dresses.

“I think it’s a really good opportunity for people to give back to their community and other communities that aren’t as privileged as us,” Courtney Brown, member of Senior Women, said.

Through this project, the girls in Joplin, who were devastated by the May 2011 tornado, will be given new prom dresses. However, not just any underprivileged girl qualifies to participate in the project; the counselors at their schools have to recommend them.

Through the Cinderella Project, the girls are not only given the opportunity to pick out dresses, but they also receive free makeovers, pedicures and hairdos. Dry cleaners and salons chose to sponsor the project so they can have this further special treatment.

Jill Kehelenbrink, Fashion and Construction teacher, and Cheryl Klingensmith, social studies teacher, are both backing the project.

“Community service is so important and this project reminds us to think of others,” Kehelenbrink said. “We are so fortunate here at Marquette and we don’t really know what it’s like to not be able to go to prom because of money.”

Klingensmith agreed with Kehelenbrink.

“Girls spend so much money on dresses and wear them one time,” Klingensmith said. “This is about giving to girls who are less fortunate who still deserve to have beautiful things for prom.”

Kehelenbrink said they have made good progress the first week of donations. They have collected about 20 different dresses already with more on the way.

The Senior Women are offering an incentive for donating dresses. For every dress donated, the donors’ names are entered in a raffle to win a free prom ticket. However, Kehelenbrink said the pure spirit of generosity is more important than the prize. The goal of the project isn’t to reach a certain number of dresses, but to instill a sense of generosity and pride in the school.

“You’d be surprised what giving gives back to you,” Kehelenbrink said. “We are very generous here at Marquette. We always respond well to events like this.”

The Senior Women will stop collecting dresses on Friday, Feb. 24.