15 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, May 6, 2009 Living Oakville Beaver LIVING EDITOR: ANGELA BLACKBURN By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Phone: 905-337-5560 e-mail: ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com Making prom dreams come true S hopping day may be more fun than prom day when Cinderellas across Oakville have dreams come true this Saturday. No matter what advances are made in life, some things still ring true and that is the magic in a young girl's heart when she dons a beautiful dress and feels like a princess for her prom. If you don't believe in the magic, witness the efforts of two Oakville women -- with lots of community support behind them from residents, retailers and more -- who will stage A Cinderella Event this Saturday afternoon at The Meeting House on Bristol Circle. That's when girls in Grade 8 and Grade 12 will visit to pick out a prom dress. There will be more than 1,000 gently-used gowns to choose from -- long and short, bright and pastel, sequined to satin. And that's not all. There are an equal number of shoes, evening bags and accessories. Hair and make-up experts will also be on hand with advice, tips and even demonstrations once the girls have been fitted and have selected their gown. The "ball" will run from noon to 4 p.m. and organizers promise no one will leave without their dream come true. It will bridge the distance between the so-called pumpkin patch to the palace for many local girls who would otherwise not be able to go to their prom because of a lack of something suitable to wear. And organizers, Kara Hawke and Elaine Raakman, who operate Deliberate Acts of Kindness, which distributes dakbands (Deliberate Acts of Kindness bands for people to pass on to others), say the event, whose idea originated in Los Angeles, is right up their alley. "It seemed an awesome idea, but we didn't know if there was a need in the area," admitted Raakman. "We found that there was a huge need in Halton," said Hawke. The pair approached charitable organizations, faith groups, schools and more and discovered a wealth of girls who could use some assistance in getting to their prom. "We are all linked together by our humanity and when you touch that within each other, we bring out the best in each other." Elaine Raakman Not only were the local women overwhelmed by the need they discovered, but they were also taken aback at the generosity of the community. While many groups solicit sponsors, the Oakville women found that not only residents, but local businesses, began calling them to offer help. Barrington's donated boxes of evening attire hangers while Blazer for Men donated garment bags and clothing racks. Tocca Finita is helping with the cost of dressing rooms and rental costs while Complete Party Rentals are offering discounted rates and Mount Royal dry cleaning has dry cleaned the gowns at a deep discount. ERIC RIEHL / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Fortinos is facilitating refreshments for the 50 to 75 volunteers expected to FINDING THE PERFECT FIT: Elaine Raakman, take part in assisting the girls to select left, and Kara Hawke hold prom dresses that are part of Deliberate Acts of Kindness' Cinderella Event this Saturday their special gown and more. Hawke said she hopes the event will at The Meeting House. become more polished -- and include young men -- next year, but is thank- ful it is proving such a success this year as it got off to a late start. At least 200 young women will walk into the Cinderella Event shopping day. Hawke said any of the 1,000 gowns and accessories not selected will either go to similar efforts in nearby communities or be stored appropriately until next year. "That one was worn to the Candlelight Ball," said Hawke of a gown worn to the hospital's annual black-tie gala as Raakman chose a strapless brown satin gown adorned with a bejeweled cluster pin off a rack to admire. As some of the original dakbands -- whose stories are shared on a blog -- has gone from a simple holding a door open to someone in Font Hill to a nurse offering a sympathetic ear to a breast cancer patient in Japan -- Hawke and Raakman expect dozens of tales will be generated from the Cinderella Event. "We are all linked together by our humanity and when you touch that within each other, we bring out the best in each other," said Raakman. Every aspect of Saturday's Cinderella Event is being treated with confidentiality and the utmost discretion, but Hawke and Raakman expect it may prove more exciting an event than the prom. Anyone wishing to enquire about a young girl's need and ability to participate or to volunteer, can contact eraakman@deliberateactsofkindness.ca or khawke@deliberateactsofkindness.ca. Thank you Acclaim Health Nurses! BLOW OUT SALE from May 1 to May 31 GRAND . G There is not a more pleasing exercise of the mind Thank you for being simply the best! than gratitude. It is accompanied with such an Kind, inspirational,that the duty is sufficiently inward satisfaction compassionate and wise. Your excellence leads us to ~ the Addison rewarded by the performance.beJosephbest! Starting May 4th until May 11th tarting 80% OFF sponsored by ARTCRAFT Up to Floor Models 380 Dundas Street East, Oakville Corner of Trafalgar and Dundas by Canadian Tire Thank you to all our nurses! 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