WESTCHESTER, N.Y. - Prom is a big night for many teens, but some can’t afford the high cost of gowns, tuxedos, and accessories.
That’s why Westchester County is once again partnering with the Operation Prom National Network to provide free formalwear for high school students.
The Operation Prom 2026 Prom Formal Wear Giveaway will take place at the Westchester County Center from Friday, May 1 through Sunday, May 3.
On Friday, May 1, dresses and tuxedos, as well as shoes and accessories, will be available to school groups.
On Saturday, May 3, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., high school seniors with a valid school ID or report card can come on their own without a school group for free prom wear.
To register, click here.
After they gear up, students can join Operation Prom on Saturday for a prom prep event just up the road from the County Center at the College of Westchester, 325 Central Ave., White Plains.
There will be makeup tutorials, mini-makeovers, a raffle for free prom tickets, food, and sprizes.
On Sunday, May 4, Operation Prom will be open at the County Center to all high school students from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
To register to attend on Sunday, click here.
After the students are done on Sunday, there will be a public dress sale until 2 p.m. Prices begin at $10. Proceeds will benefit Operation Prom.
More information is available on the Operation Prom website events page: https://promnationalnetwork.org/events/
To help students get to Operation Prom, the County is making Bee-Line Bus Rides free to the County Center for students who show their student IDs.
RITE OF PASSAGE
Boston College economist Jay L. Zagorsky, who created a prom index to track prom expenses, told The Washington Post that the cost of prom dresses is up 10 percent from this time last year, hair and makeup services are up more than 5 percent in that same period, and the cost of prom tickets has risen 128 percent since 2000.
With current costs, prom expenses can run into the hundreds and in some cases thousands of dollars, making prom affordability a major challenge for many Westchester families.
"The high school prom is a rite of passage when lasting memories are formed,” said County Executive Ken Jenkins.
“It’s not just a night out or a big date, but it’s a chance for students to celebrate together as part of a shared community. We want to make sure that every child in Westchester, regardless of the means, has a chance to feel both the excitement of the big night, and the sense of community inclusion,” he added.
Operation Prom is one of Social Services Commissioner Leonard Townes’ “favorite events.”
“Seeing the young men and women choosing their outfits and knowing they’re going to have a chance to look their best on their big night, seeing how it uplifts them and fills them with self-esteem, is wonderful to witness,” he said.
Noel D’Allacco, Operation Prom National Network founder, was grateful for more than two decades of partnership with the county.
“Together, we have been able to make sure that the experience of the prom is accessible to all students regardless of their economic circumstances,” she said thanking Jenkins and Townes. “As they’ve said, we’re doing more than just making sure young people look good on prom night, we’re making them feel like they belong.”
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