An inspiring community initiative that helped dozens of young people attend their school prom last year is returning to Salisbury with an expanded and inclusive mission. Organiser Jante Gibson-Bryant is launching the second annual Say Yes To the Prom Dress event, and this year she is raising the bar by introducing Suit Up for Prom, ensuring young men are fully included in the experience.
Event Details and a New Partnership
The main giveaway event is scheduled for March 14, 2026, at the Salisbury Civic Center. Building on the success of the inaugural event in March 2025, which provided dresses and a full 'Prom Perfect Experience', the 2026 edition aims to be bigger and more impactful. A key development is a partnership with Communities in Schools, whose executive director James Davis approached Gibson-Bryant after receiving suit donations, directly inspiring the new Suit Up for Prom programme.
"There was so much success, it has to continue," Gibson-Bryant said, reflecting on last year's event. "So we're not just doing prom dresses this year. We're doing suits for the young men as well." The charity is seeking quality donations and already has close to 200 dresses, with a goal of reaching about 500. They are also accepting new or gently used shoes and jewellery.
The Premier Prom Perfect Experience
At the heart of the event is the coveted Prom Perfect Experience, a full package designed to remove all financial barriers for attendees. This year, for the first time, it will be awarded to one senior girl and one senior boy from Rowan-Salisbury Schools. The package, offered by nomination, replicates last year's offering which included a dress, professional hair, makeup, manicure, pedicure, and a sponsored dinner.
Gibson-Bryant emphasised her commitment to quality and dignity: "I'm not just going to give them anything and I don't want them to feel like I'm getting this dress for free and it looks free. I'm not interested in doing that." Nominations for this top experience are open until 11:59 pm on March 1, 2026, and can be submitted by teachers, counsellors, friends, family, or as a self-nomination. The form requests details on achievements, character, and future goals, and should be emailed to jante@awakenherwellness.com.
How to Get Involved and the Wider Mission
Community support is vital for the event's success. Donations of dresses, suits, and accessories can be dropped off on February 28, 2026, from 3 to 6 pm at the Second Presbyterian Church on Lincolnton Road in Salisbury. All donations must be received by March 1, 2026. Those wishing to register to attend the giveaway or businesses interested in sponsoring or vending should visit the event's Eventbrite page or contact Gibson-Bryant directly.
The project is run by Awakenher Wellness, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit focused on empowering women and children. Gibson-Bryant frames the prom event as part of a wider mission to nurture future leaders, an endeavour that she says 'heals something in me'. The emotional impact was clear last year, with local media reporting attendees leaving with 'tears of joy and smiles'.
Gibson-Bryant summed up her driving philosophy: "My goal is to always give an experience." She is determined that recipients leave feeling empowered, not embarrassed, recalling a friend's observation that she had 'watched so much shame walk in and so much joy walk out'. That memory, she stated, 'sealed it for me'.
