Cinderella Project

Over the past few years, I have had the opportunity to be involved with the Cinderella Project through the Young Lawyers Division of the South Carolina Bar. Even though I'm not in practice, I've kept up my Bar membership because I've so enjoyed being involved with the YLD and appreciate all the friendships and opportunities its brought me. The YLD of Columbia pairs with the AKA sorority to put on the Cinderella Project each year in the spring, and we collect gently worn formal gowns, shoes and accessories from young lawyers and community members and then allow high school ladies to come "shop" for a dress at a Boutique held at the USC School of Law.

Our Boutique was held yesterday, March 6th, and this year, I had the privilege of helping Anne Marie Hempy, a good friend from Law School, chair the Project. I was honestly nervous about it all coming together and wondering how Anne Marie and I were going to rent a U-Haul, pick up racks, tubs and mirrors from the Bar storage unit, get it all set-up at the Law School, provide dresses to 200 girls, then load it all back up into the U-Haul and transfer the left-overs back to the storage unit, all-the-while with our men out of town and unable to help. However I completely underestimated our fabulous committee.

It is truly AMAZING to see what happens when over 40 smart, talented women come together for good! I have full confidence in the South Carolina Bar with these ladies as members. They were involved every step of the way, from loading and unloading the truck sorting and hanging dresses to taking dresses that had seen better days to Goodwill and decorating the Law School to make it look like a real Boutique. But most importantly, they helped over 275 young ladies, find dresses to wear to prom, who may not have been able to afford them otherwise. Ladies from high schools all over the Midlands, who came with their moms, their dads, their brothers and their dates, and walked away with a beautiful gown draped over their arm and a big smile on their face. What a great day.

The Law School Auditorium on Friday night, after set-up- we had over 1000 dresses!

We opened the Boutique early to young ladies from Epworth Childrens Home.

The line outside began to form around 7:30 am, with the Boutique scheduled to start at 9 am. Our 3 tables of shoes!

Anne Marie and me- this girl has got it together AND can expertly drive a U-Haul!

With some young lawyers and AKA ladies

another shot of line outside the Law School

With Terra, another great friend from law school, who was the door prize queen- she secured amazing door prizes for the young ladies who attended the Boutique

And the shopping begins! Sadly I dropped my camera after this point and shattered the viewing screen, so I don't have too many other pictures from the day.