HAVE A CUP OF JOE WITH JOE – Get Dressed To The Nines During The 18th Annual Say Yes To The Prom Dress!
With two locations in the area, New Beginnings is an important organization known for the many services they offer in the Windsor Essex region.
Since 1972, they have worked night and day under the radar, to help safeguard our community and to provide essential second chances in life for at-risk youths needing them. (Note: for more information about their history, evolution, and services check online).
For the past 18 years New Beginnings has held an annual event — Say Yes To The Prom Dress! — a time when girls can browse through a vast selection of semi- formal, prom, and graduation dresses, ranging in sizes from 0 to 26.
The event is FREE and open to the public. Plus, there are plenty of fitting rooms available to ensure a perfect fit.
This year’s event takes place March 21 (2 p.m. to 7 p.m.) and March 22 nd (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at New Beginnings, 1015 Highland Avenue in Windsor.
The public is invited to participate by donating prom, semi-formal, and graduation dresses (all sizes especially sizes 0 to 4, as well as 14+), and accessories such as dress shoes, jewellery, etc.
Drop off locations are at both New Beginnings locations, 1049 Janette Avenue and 1015 Highland Avenue, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Donations are accepted until March 17, 2025.
Stacey Yannacopoulos is the Executive Director of New Beginnings and the Coordinator for their annual Say Yes To The Prom Dress! Beaming with happiness and pride over the continuing success of this event, she has been described as a person with “some contagious enthusiasm.”
During the main event, New Beginnings staff work together with community partners and volunteers such as; Windsor Police Service, Delta Zeta Sorority at the University of Windsor, Keller Williams (Chris Kambouris Real Estate Team), and Rocket Innovation Studio.
Also, the Windsor Bulimia Anorexia Nervosa Association (BANA) assists by promoting health and self-esteem for the young participants by decorating the mirrors in the dressing rooms with positive affirmations and messages to make this a fun and memorable event.
In addition to dress donations from the public, a boutique partnership exists with His & Hers Bridal, 828 Ottawa Street in Windsor, owned by Nelly Semaan.
“We are so grateful that every year they donate tons of formal dresses for this event. We’d love to bring more area boutiques on board to assist in this amazing event.” – Stacey Yannacopoulos
Youth who attend are given raffle tickets for gifts donated by local businesses, like those listed here from 2024: Scizzors Inc., Amalfi Panini and Café, East African Community Resource Center, IncluSV Beauty Solutions, Potka’s Kitchen, Karma Jewelry, Mardin’s Barbershop, Prestige Barbershop Windsor, Sawyer’s Craft BBQ, Shoppers Drug Mart (Golden Mile), Classy Lashes, K.O.M.A. Restaurant, Lavish Hair Concepts, Macro Foods,
Firehouse Subs Windsor, Pure Vibez Nutrition, Hairstyling By Janet, Frate Street Food and Oggi Esthetics by Julia Holmes. Reflecting on last year’s event, Yannacopoulos reports: “We provided over 500 dresses last year (and 50 suits for young guys — yes, the fellas are also welcome to participate) and more than 2,000 outfits in the past three years.”
Good corporate leadership looks to connect with outside interests to enhance their constructive interaction. New Beginnings achieves this with the United Way Centraide Windsor-Essex Chatham-Kent (UWC).
“Every year we allow first access (one hour before opening to the community) to a group of students identified by United Way as in-need, and the staff brings them in from the county,” explains Yannacopoulos.
“Since the event is so appreciated by the students, their staff offers to help by ways of partnering through organizing an internal donation, and by members from their Women United group volunteering on the event days.”
Liam Giles-Hayes, Vice President, Programs & Strategic Relations from UWC comments: “Programs like Say Yes to the Prom Dress! are so important. It is essential that our students have the opportunity to take part in all the typical teen experiences, like prom. These milestones are a vital part of growing up, and every student deserves to feel included, celebrated, and part of their community.”
And Kaila DiCecco, UWC Team Lead, Post-Secondary Transition & Alumni Support adds: “Say Yes to the Prom Dress! is a transformative experience for our students in our On Track to Success program. It is about more than just finding the perfect dress, suit, or accessories — it is about instilling confidence, self-worth, and the belief that they are deserving.”
Yannacopoulos’ 14-year-old daughter, Alyssa, also helps her mother with this event and describes the experience: “I brought three of my friends and a cousin to the event and we all got dresses, heels and jewellery. Mirrors in the dressing rooms had affirming and positive messages. The place was super busy, lots of people. It was high energy and a room full of love.”
We also must mention that Alyssa dances with Windsor Dance eXperience Inc. and she had them donate several dresses to the event as well.
Madi Gilson is 21 years old and a past recipient of a dress from last year and sums up the whole event quite nicely in the following quote: “It was an amazing experience. I was able to try on so many dresses, and I found the perfect one for me (purple); it made me feel like a true ‘Princess’ (see accompanying photo). I also found some accessories to go with it and was supported by the volunteers who were hyping me up saying how beautiful I looked. It was a magical experience!”
Biz X magazine wishes New Beginnings great success in the 2025 Say Yes To The Prom Dress! as they help “dress up” Windsor, one young person at a time!
