Morton's The Steakhouse locations in Northern Virginia to host Magic Wand Project Collection Drives

May 9, 2011 - PRLog -- The Magic Wand Project is proud to announce a return to Morton's the Steakhouse in Arlington (Crystal City), with the addition of the Reston and Tyson's Corner locations for their 2011 collection drive.  In 2010, Kim Christensen, Sales and Marketing Manager at the Arlington location hosted the dress drive and offered to do so again this year.  "We were thrilled to have a small part in helping The Magic Wand Project make dreams come true for students," noted Christensen whose relationship goes back to the first year The Magic Wand Project was launched, when she was the Sales and Catering Manager at the Embassy Suites Hotel Washington Convention Center location in 2008.  When Christensen's colleagues in the Tyson’s Corner and Reston locations of Morton's heard that the Arlington location was hosting a dress and tuxedo drive this year, they immediately joined the cause.  The three locations will be giving a complimentary Bar Bite coupon to Magic Wand Project donors, and the Reston location has already received eight dresses at this writing.

“When we got Kim’s email, Diane and I couldn't believe their generosity," said Moss who plans to be on hand at the three events to take pictures and help collect items.  She went on to note that "we have been overwhelmed by the generous donations we have received this year, a high school in Fairfax held a dance to collect donations, we have been getting emails and calls, so the email from Morton's was just the icing on the cake!" She then further noted that the current climate controlled 5x5 storage space they pay for in Laurel has definitely become outgrown and they are still searching for an in-kind donor with climate controlled storage to hold the more than 500 dresses, 150 pairs of shoes, accessories, handbags, tuxedo shirts, tuxedos and more.

The event at Morton's from 10:00am to 7:00pm during each day is a huge first for The Magic Wand Project which both parties hope will continue for many years to come.   Dress and tuxedo donations should be dry cleaned prior to giving.  "It helps us enormously when the items are previously dry cleaned; we like to get them in the inventory and out immediately" said Freeland, "and to remember to donate items that are genuinely gently used.  We appreciate every donation we receive, but want to remind people the importance of the items looking as new as possible; we want to make sure the students get quality items that are fashionable, clean and help them feel and look special."  

In today’s challenging economy, it is exceptionally difficult for families to balance expenses associated with high school activities and college preparation with everyday living expenses.  The Magic Wand Project endeavors to help high school students, who would most likely be unable to attend one of the most important and memorable events of their young lives.  The criteria simple; be a current junior or senior high school student, and be financially unable to afford appropriate attire to attend prom, homecoming, or other school related formal events.  

Bridesmaid’s dresses that have been worn only once or even brand new with tags still attached, have delivered smiles and laughter, disbelief and surprise.  From its inception, The Magic Wand Project has paid it forward through their efforts of collecting dresses, accessories, and tuxedos and in return, experienced the warm embrace of young men, young women and parents whom they have never met.  Across the country, various other organizations are dedicated to providing formal gowns for young women, but the distinction for the Project is they focus on including donations for young men.  Almost immediately, charitable donations started coming in, not only from local donors, but also from as far away as Georgia and from organizations that include Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation.  This positive response demonstrated the widespread interest in such a worthy cause.

At each party, students try on and select their prom attire, which is theirs to keep with the exception of the tuxedos, which The Magic Wand Project rents for a fee of $35.00 and the fee is returned to the student when the tuxedo is returned cleaned and in the condition, they received it in.  At a 2009 Magic Wand party, a deaf mother was brought to tears seeing her son select a tuxedo that fit him perfectly and her daughter expressed her thanks through hugs and smiles.  Currently, the Project assists high school students in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.  However, the goal is to become a nationwide resource for students who do not have such an organization in their area.  Since the 2008 inception, over 750 new and gently used gowns, dresses, shoes and accessories have been collected for the Cinderella’s and tuxedos, suits, shoes and accessories have been collected for the Cinderfella's and many students have benefited from the generosity of donors.  Donations continue to be received throughout the year via donation drives hosted by the Project, their partners, website inquiries and word-of-mouth.  The next "Magic Wand Party" where students are able to select and keep prom attire free of charge and rent tuxedos for $35, will be held at the Marriott Inn and Conference Center UMUC on  Sunday, May 15 from 12:00pm to 4:00pm.  

Wedding and event planning firms, Black Bag Productions and Events of Sophistication collaborated in April 2008 to launch The Magic Wand Project ("TMWP").  Its primary mission and focus is to provide prom attire to students unable to afford purchasing it.  For more information on The Magic Wand Project, visit their site at www.themagicwandproject.com

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Diane Freeland is a certified wedding planner and member of the Association of Bridal Consultants. She received her wedding planning certification from the Wedding Planning Institute in 2006 and shortly thereafter launched Events of Sophistication. Planning fabulous events such as weddings, fashion shows, fundraisers, corporate and private functions is her goal. Ms. Freeland was recently named the official event coordinator of Baltimore’s Fashion Week. .

Kim Moss is a certified wedding planner, instructor and member of the American Academy of Wedding Professionals and an event planner specializing in corporate and non-profit event planning and production. She has 15 years of event planning experience that includes high profile political and celebrity studded events, conferences, gala and fundraising event productions, weddings, fashion shows and private parties.

They are the co-founders of The Magic Wand Project and since 2008 have worked to make dreams come true.