Free dresses and formal clothes to high school students for special events will be available soon in downtown Grass Valley
Native Wren will hold a fundraising event 6 p.m. Friday, August 1, to help with the cost of construction for the soon-to-open Nevada County Cinderella Project boutique in downtown Grass Valley.
Bright Futures for Youth’s Cinderella Project, which provides free dresses, tuxedos and other formal clothes for proms and special events to high school students, is relocating to the ground floor of Native Wren, popular apparel, décor and gifts store at 125 Mill Street.
Construction will start soon and should be completed in a few weeks, allowing the Cinderella Project to open before high school homecoming football games and dances.
Native Wren will offer a long list of items during the fundraiser, which also includes Revival Garden Co. and Indigo Wild Flower Farm and mini make overs by Ishe Beauty and Health using Moonrise Creek products sold in the store. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the construction and the development of the new Cinderella Project space. People attending the fundraiser can also donate to the project or Bright Futures for Youth.
“The Cinderella Project helps high school students experience memorable, once-in-a-lifetime moments like the prom or a homecoming dance without spending money on formal clothes,” said Wrynna Kohler, owner of Native Wren and a member of the Bright Futures for Youth Board of Directors. “Bright Futures for Youth changes lives, including my own.”
Kohler, born and raised in Grass Valley, was a member of The Friendship Club, an after-school program for middle and high school girls. The Friendship Club, started in 1995, later merged with NEO to become Bright Futures for Youth.
About one of every 12 young people in western Nevada County participate in Bright Futures for Youth and its three core programs – The Friendship Club, the NEO Youth Center and SAFE, which helps young people experiencing housing instability. Bright Futures for Youth took over the Cinderella Project in 2022.
“The Cinderella Project helps make dreams come true. We appreciate Wrynna for making some space at Native Wren to house this program,” said Jennifer Singer, Executive Director of Bright Futures for Youth. “The fundraiser will cover some of the construction costs and pave the way for the Cinderella Project boutique to open as soon as possible.”
The Cinderella Project will initially be open Friday – Sunday, noon – 4 p.m.
Residents donate clothes – from classic gowns to more modern dresses, suits and tuxedos – to the Cinderella Project. The number of clothes available depends on donations. Clothes donations are accepted at Bright Futures for Youth and Native Wren.
Bright Futures for Youth has been operating the Cinderella Project most recently in a space inside Sammie’s Nifty Thrift Shop on E. Main Street.
The new location inside Native Wren opens the door to more opportunities and possibilities.
“The Cinderella Project boutique will help meet the needs of young people in our community and I’m excited to provide this space,” said Kohler, who also has a nonprofit, The Giving Wren Foundation. “Everyone should be able to enjoy a special event and dream a little.”