June will be a big month for Brittany Sand. Her son鈥檚 third birthday is on the 13th. Her own birthday, her 19th, will be June 22.

And on June 17, she鈥檒l wear pink 鈥� with black shoulder straps.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 think I was going to get a dress,鈥� said the North 性视界传媒 Learning Centre student as she checked herself out in the mirror on Saturday at the Kennedy Seniors Centre.

鈥淟ook at the poof,鈥� she beamed.

The single mom was among 99 girls who were treated to a day of selecting grad dresses, shoes and accessories courtesy of The Princess Project.

Then came the hairstylists and makeup artists, followed by official portraits.

All for free.

鈥淚t鈥檚 sooo pretty,鈥� Serenity Endo called out to a friend. 鈥淵ou look like a princess.鈥�

The 18-year-old, also from North 性视界传媒 Learning Centre, has been living by herself for the last four years.

At the gala, she was tended to by one of 125 white-clad 鈥渇airy gradmother鈥� volunteers, and was taken through rooms full of dresses, jewelry, shawls, shoes and purses.

鈥淓verything they pick up is theirs to keep,鈥� said Karen Pruim, who is running her second year of The Princess Project.

Its based on the similar Cinderella Project, which has provided Graduation Day support for deserving girls for the last 12 years.

Pruim said she鈥檚 been given lots of support from that Vancouver group, who were forced to turn away some girls due to a heavy demand for the service.

Last year, she provided the dresses by appointment out of her 性视界传媒 basement 鈥� 鈥淚 have a great husband,鈥� she notes.

The dresses, which can easily cost $500 to $1,000 retail, have been donated by individuals and businesses. Most have been used only once.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e expensive things,鈥� said Emily Thompson, 19, a graduate of South 性视界传媒/White Rock Learning Centre.

The girls, who came from as far away as Mission and Ladner, had to be referred to The Princess Project by counsellors, teachers or social workers who were aware of each girl鈥檚 financial or family situation.

鈥淪ome of the girls live on their own, some of them are young mothers, others live in families where they have to take care of their siblings,鈥� explained Pruim.

As Langley Fine Arts School student Jeseye Tanner sampled the accessories, her mother Kaetlon said they would鈥檝e had to go to a vintage or thrift store without the help.

鈥淭o be able to have this much choice is fantastic.鈥�

Pruim said the quality of the garments is a priority.

Last year, for instance, she provided grad dresses to three of her daughter鈥檚 friends, and nobody suspected they were second-hand.

鈥淭here are so many kids who have everything that still don鈥檛 graduate. These kids have nothing and they made it. We want them to fit in, to feel like princesses.鈥�

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