Boutique makes prom dreams come true
Jacqueline Faylor, left, answers questions about the free prom dresses selected Sunday by three deserving teens - Larisha Tionson, Jennifer Farias and Vanessa Arceo, all 17 and looking forward to their senior prom for Bear Creek High School in May. Faylor is president of Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo, a Stockton-based nonprofit she founded four years ago to help girls and boys in need of some assistance to attend prom. JOE GOLDEEN/THE RECORD
STOCKTON — Four years ago, everything came together for Stockton businesswoman Jacqueline Faylor — the realization of a need in the community, the inspiration and personal commitment to meet that need and some random, yet quirkily appropriate, song lyrics:
Hence, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo was born — a registered nonprofit organization that helps send deserving teen girls and boys to their high school proms who otherwise would not be able to attend because of the expense.
Sunday morning, 20 girls were waiting outside when the doors opened to Southern Exposure, a salon on Pacific Avenue’s Miracle Mile that was transformed for a day into a prom dress boutique.
The girls — more arrived throughout the morning — were invited in to select just the right dress for their upcoming big night free of charge. They were assisted by members of University of the Pacific’s Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.
“The UOP girls came and brought music and smiles and helped the girls pick out great dresses,” Faylor said.
The dresses spread out on nine racks in red, gold, black and many other colors as well as different styles and sizes have been donated by Stockton bridal shops and individuals giving back.
“They become the girls’ dresses. It is theirs to keep,” Faylor said, explaining that the 72 girls chosen to pick out a dress this year were all invited by their high school counselors from nine campuses around town.
“The school counselors give us a list of names to invite. They can use any criteria they want for a variety of different reasons,” she said. Those reasons range from financial need to an incentive for meeting a goal, and the invitation is presented as a special scholarship or award. Every girl who participated by midmorning Sunday left happy, having said yes to a dress.
 “It’s kind of hard to find the right prom dress, but this one fits perfectly,” said Vanessa Arceo, 17, a senior at Bear Creek High School.
 Arceo said she was looking for a dress that would fit the Greek theme of this year’s senior prom as well as show off a little pizzazz.
“I like sparkly things, and this dress is full of sparkles,” she said, showing off the gold bling on the front of her new dress.
Arceo’s friend, Jennifer Farias, also 17, said she didn’t know what to expect going in Sunday, but she was quite pleased with the fuchsia gown she selected.
“We weren’t going to prom because our parents don’t make enough for us to go,” Farias said.
She and the other girls who were invited to participate in Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo’s Dress Adoption Day also will have the opportunity to return to Southern Exposure on prom day for a formal hairdo, makeup application and manicure — all provided free to the girls by students of Stockton’s Marinello School of Beauty.
“We make them feel absolutely gorgeous,” Faylor said.
Boys, too, get in on the act. Forty-two of them have been invited to go to Formal Connection in north Stockton for a free tuxedo rental — BBB pays a reduced rate of $60 per tuxedo. And Papapavlo’s in Lincoln Center provides the boys with a free dinner for two on prom night, charging just $30 to BBB.
“Our students pay nothing. These special businesses are what make our program possible. Financial donations from our community are what makes it happen,” Faylor said.
Faylor said the businesses — along with major contributors Bank of Stockton, Chase Chevrolet, DaVita Dialysis, the Moose Lodge and Lions Club — continue to help because of the students involved.
“The kids are so happy. The invitation comes as a surprise to them. They can’t apply for it,” Faylor said. “The kids are seriously the sweetest kids, so appreciative. At Papapavlos, they love the boys. They open the doors for the girls, arrive on time, pull the chairs out for the girls. Some of them have never eaten at a formal restaurant before.”
Bear Creek senior Larisha Tionson, 17, is both excited and a little nervous about her prom.
“I found the perfect dress. I love how it fits my body. I feel like I’m privileged,” she said. But her mom said Larisha also realizes prom marks the end of an era.
“It’s very important to her, but she’s kind of scared to leave school. Now that she’s an adult, she knows she has to take on new responsibilities,” Laurice Tionson said.
Faylor has seen her efforts grow from helping students at five high schools to this year sending invitations to 114 students at nine schools, and she hopes to continue to pass along her “love, passion and enthusiasm,” knowing it will come back to help others in the community.
izzy806
2087
kaledo-art
pixelskylines
titsay