Individuals at Aspire of WNY’s 7 Community Drive location dressed to the nines to dance the day away at Prom on September 29th, 2023. The event involved colorful lights, fun decorations, fancy attire, and a DJ. Guests were able to take pictures in front of a prom backdrop, request all their favorite songs to hear on the dance floor, and enjoy pizza, snacks, and refreshments while mingling with friends and dates.
All participants were given the opportunity to pick out outfits to wear for the event on the Tuesday prior to the Prom. The agency asked for clothing donations, including suits, ties, and gowns, via e-mail and Facebook groups. These donations were then laid out in the multi-purpose room of 7 Community Drive, and individuals had the opportunity to sort through the donations to pick out the perfect Prom outfit. Many of the outfits worn were generously donated by Kenmore Apartments.
The prom started at around 10 AM and went into the afternoon, but many individuals arrived earlier to get their hair, nails, and makeup done in their favorite colors and styles before the big day actually began. “This is the first time I’ve dressed up in a long time, in years. Everybody is dressed up,” explains Lori, an individual who receives services through Aspire of WNY.
“We just wanted to do something nice for everybody. We had a big donation of suits and prom dresses, so we decided to do it up. The best part is seeing everybody smile; they’re excited. Their eyes light up, and you can just tell how excited they are,” explains Shay Kelly, Direct Support Professional at Aspire of WNY.
“It was a really special day, especially because many of the individuals may have not been able to experience prom when they were younger. This event gave many of the individuals something different to look forward to this September,” says June Grubbs, Resource Facilitator at Aspire of WNY.
Events like this are vital to Aspire of WNY’s mission of helping individuals actualize their dreams and live to their own highest levels of independence and are only made possible through the support of the entire Aspire of WNY community. We believe that everything we do is an opportunity to have a positive, meaningful, and lasting impact on our partners – the people we support and their personal support systems, employees, other care agencies, and our community.
