Meet the real fairy godmother of local teens who can’t afford to go to prom

For many students, prom is a rite of passage in their high school career before they are sent out into the real world.

THE history of the celebration Prom dates back to the early 1900s, when it was a sort of counter-program to the debutante balls and social events that were typically reserved for wealthy students. Prom has evolved into a full-fledged gathering, open to virtually every American student.

Available, yes, but not affordable. Between the dresses, tuxedos, shoes, jewelry, makeup, corsages and boutonnieres, prom is increasingly out of reach for underprivileged students. It’s becoming the very thing it was meant to replace.

This is where this week’s candidate for the Rhythm of joy between. Give glamour is a nonprofit organization that provides students experiencing financial hardship with a complete prom experience, including professional photos and transportation to the ceremony venue.

Giving the Glam brings many students the joy of regaining confidence and building self-esteem, while creating lasting memories. Giving the Glam Founder and President and this week’s Joy Beat nominee, Maristela Rapo, has joined GBH All things Considered Host Arun Rath talks about his passion for making prom dreams come true. The following is a lightly edited transcript.

Arun Rath: Before we jump into Giving the Glam, tell us a little about your own story and how you became interested in fashion.

Maristela Rapo: Yes, I am originally from Brazil, from Rio de Janeiro. I left Brazil when I was 18 and lived in Denmark. You know, Europe is so connected; every two hours you are in a different country. I thought, “I love Italy.”

Eventually, I moved (to the United States) — and then I came here in 2000. I was in love with fashion and I opened a high-end boutique called Wolford. They’re known all over the world. And then (I opened) Giuseppe Zanotti in Copley Place in Boston and in New York.

I sold Wolford back to the company and had to close Giuseppe, like during the recession of 2008. I didn’t want to live in the suburbs, doing nothing. So I said to myself: “You know, I have to use a little bit of what I know best, which is fashion, to make a difference.”

Four children later, my daughter Alexis did a little introduction between me and the principal of METCO in Dover Sherborn. Then my daughter came to me and said, “Mom, why don’t you introduce yourself to Miss Monique—Miss Monique Marshall? Maybe you can do something for her students.”

I introduced myself and said, “Hello, Miss Monique, listen, I work in the fashion industry. If there’s anything I can do to help your kids or do anything with your students, I’d be happy to do it.”

Six weeks later, she called me and said, “I have a young participant whose father passed away. She was raised by a single mother and she needs help with prom.” And I said, “Oh, my God, prom.”

To be honest with you, we all laugh now because I thought not all prom dresses were that beautiful. I remember calling the store where I bought my wedding dress and saying to the lady, the owner of the store, “Dolores, could you help me? I have no idea what a prom dress looks like.”

Then she said, “Maristela, really? A ball gown is a gala gown, you know? It’s just a meta-refinement; what’s best for the person?” And that’s how I did it. I said (to the METCO student), “Kimberly, why don’t you get ready at my place and bring your family? I’ll get something to eat here, I’ll get a hairdresser, I’ll do your makeup. You’ll leave here and go straight to the ball.”

I didn’t realize how much I had touched her. And two weeks later, she sent me this beautiful message, saying, “Thank you so much for making me feel like a princess. My friends were so happy to see me.”

I remember Kimberly had short hair. We put extensions in, we did everything, like a Brazilian. We tried everything: the makeup, the hair, everything. The accessories, the dress, everything was new. She kept everything. You know, I was very excited about the result and the impact I had on her.

Several months later, METCO Director Monique Marshall called me and said, “I guess you have 20 kids for next year that need your help.” And then, I guess between 2014 and 2015, that number doubled: 20, 50, 90, and up to 100. We grew so fast that my husband came to me and said, “You know, I know you really well. I know you’re not going to stop growing.” And we all know that prom is very expensive—on average, over $1,000 if you have to include everything in the package.

That’s when I started fundraising and I was able to grow faster and faster. Everything I did was always volunteer, from 2014 to now, and for the rest of my life. You know, I didn’t have any particular interest. It’s just volunteering, and I think it’s very rewarding.

I get to use the passion, the gift that I have, and the reward is seeing how the families and participants feel. It’s a hard feeling to describe.

Rath: It all started mainly with METCO students and has expanded considerably since then.

Rap: Yes, yes. The general idea is that everyone needs help, everyone needs a chance. And we all know that prom in this country (remember I’m from South America, lived in Europe, and am here in the US) is a party you would never see in any other country. Prom is a very big event here! It’s almost like a wedding. There’s even a marriage proposal now.

I think it’s really unfair to my participants, the participants that I have, who are not only struggling financially, but also all the other challenges that their lives have thrown at them, to be left out. You know, maybe because they’re not only struggling financially, but also because their self-esteem is at an all-time low. Maybe they have no direction.

Some of my participants are alone. You know, they don’t have anyone to guide them. But for some of them that I help, it’s like they’re really alone. Unfortunately, some of them feel like they don’t even belong in this world, and having a stranger, someone they’ve never met before, gives them a sense of belonging and says, “Hey, you can make this happen. You can feel good about yourself.” And that’s huge.

Rath: Yeah. When I think about it, especially right now, when young people are being attacked by social media, it really undermines their self-esteem. To hear a teenage girl say that you made her feel like a princess is huge.

Rap: Yes. When I do everything for my participants, it’s like it’s first class, because it’s all connected to my background. I said, “Listen. The participants I help can easily give up on education because of all the difficulties they go through. But they don’t.”

They know that their education is the only thing they really have. It’s really unfair that they don’t deserve a new dress or new shoes, or transportation, a limousine, to prom just because they can’t afford it. It’s not even a topic of discussion.

Rath: I don’t want to sound ridiculous, but you’re a real fairy godmother! You do everything: the dress, the shoes and the carriage.

Rap: Yeah, that’s what they call me now! It’s a new name, and the (participants) were like, “You know this Miss? They call me Miss, you’re a fairy godmother!” And I was like, “Oh! Okay!”