Prom Dreams seeks 2019 donors for students with special needs

On Saturday, May 4, East Aurora High School will celebrate Prom 2019 at Ashton Place Banquets in Willowbrook.

Now in its sixth year, Prom Dreams at East Aurora is making the experience of attending prom a reality for students with special needs. Coach Bill Bryant, an adaptive physical education teacher at East Aurora High, leads the efforts to make this experience happen for the students and help students with special needs attend the prom at no cost.

This year, 12 special needs students hope to attend the prom, and the costs associated with attending are met through fundraising. The goal is to raise a minimum of $1,000 to make sure all of the basic prom needs for these students are met.

Over the years, Coach Bryant has received many donations of dresses, ties, shoes, shirts and suits. These items are then provided to the students at no cost. If a student is unable to find the apparel they need, usually the young men, then donations are used to provide a rented suit or tuxedo.

Prom Dreams also provides chaperones, who are volunteer teachers and aides from East High, to assist the students at the prom.

Before attending the prom, students and their families are invited to the school for pictures before being transported to the event.

This year, Bryant and his team especially hope that local individuals and businesses can help with cash donations, dresses, suits, and/or flowers for the students, so that their experience is a memory that they will remember for the rest of their lives.

For questions, or to make a donation to Prom Dreams, contact Coach Bill Bryant at (630) 299-8188, or by email at wbryant@d131.org.