TLC Helps Prom Dreams Come True For DC Area Students

SILVER SPRING, MD — Prom dreams came true for more than 200 economically underserved and academically high achieving high school students when TLC's Say Yes To The Prom stopped in Silver Spring Thursday.

Students piled into the Discovery Communications' Global Corporate Headquarters to participate in an all-day event featuring free prom dresses, tuxedo and accessory "shopping" alongside TLC's Monte Durham. The students came from: Baltimore City's Baltimore School for the Arts, Forest Park High School, Friendship Academy of Engineering and Technology, Northwestern High School, DCPS' McKinley Tech High School, Roosevelt High School, Gaithersburg High School and Montgomery Blair High School.

“Say Yes To The Prom began at Discovery’s global headquarters here in Silver Spring six years ago as a small dress collection initiative impacting about 40 local students," said Adria Alpert Romm, Chief Human Resources and Global Diversity Officer for Discovery Communications and founder of Say Yes To The Prom. “The growth of this program over the last six years is a testament to Discovery’s ongoing commitment to leveraging the power of its brands, talent and employees to give back to the community in a very real, very impactful way.”

Girls were able to select a dress from over 2,500 Macy's dresses, and tuxedo rentals were provided by Men's Wearhouse. Hair and makeup students from Paul Mitchell Schools gave girls free hair and makeup styling to complete their look. Aditionally, girls were able to chose shoes, bags and accessories courtesy of Betsey Johnson's Blue by Betsey collection.

Along with gifting students with their perfect prom look, the program also prepares students for college and careers with internship, scholarship, mentorship and networking opportunities. As part of the day, students were introduced to professional mentors from the TLC parent company Discovery Communications as well as volunteers from industry partner AT&T.

The Silver Spring event marks the fifth and final stop on the sixth annual Say Yes To The Prom tour, which this year has touched the lives of more than 1,000 students across the U.S. A new, 90-minute Say Yes To The Prom special following students from this year's Los Angeles premiered on TLC on Saturday, April 1 and can be watched when visiting TLCgo.com.

Photos: Discovery Communications