Rita's Closet
Donation protected
Rita Marie Medeiros was a vibrant, giving, lovely young woman who at 16 years old was looking forward to her future and the career path she had chosen in nursing. Tragically, her life was cut short on April 2, 2012, in a car accident. In the back seat of her car was the prom dress she had purchased that day for her upcoming graduation event. Rita was one of triplets, well known in the Westminster community for being active in all sorts of extra curricular school activities, working in the local mall, and participating in various community events. Not surprisingly, she was an organ donor, and when she passed she changed the lives of over 100 individuals in desperate need of organ donation.
After Rita's death, her family formed the charitable foundation known as Rita's Closet. The charity is dedicated to accepting donations of dresses and all the accessories that go with dressing for a special occasion. Everything is sold at an incredibly low price and even given to girls who cannot afford to buy a prom outfit. Each year the board of Rita's Closet tries their best to raise funds for college scholarships for worthy and needy students by holding an afternoon tea and fashion show, with volunteers modeling the dresses that are for sale-just in time for prom! The money raised is then used for three scholarships awarded to young women graduating and enrolled in a college, with a major in the arts.
Each year the struggle to keep Rita's Closet up and running gets harder and harder. Rita's mother Tamara, my sister, works with others that donate their time, to make sure that Rita's memory lives on through the sale of new or gently used dresses sold to teens at minimum cost so that they can experience that magical evening-prom night. The main fundraising is in the month of May, in time for prom, but donations are greatly appreciated at any time of year!
My sister's family and all other relatives have seen and felt the suffering of losing such a precious young women just starting to live and look forward to the future. It is a heart wrenching, unimaginable pain! Anyone that met my niece could see that she lived every moment with joy and excitement, sharing that wide eyed wonder with everyone that knew her. The creation of Rita's Closet was a way to focus that grief on something positive.
I know that times are tough for everyone, but please consider a donation. All money is used for storing the dresses, holding the fundraiser, and providing the scholarships, which are distributed by the board of directors. Help is needed to continue to carry on this charity and no gift is too small! Your donation is a tax deduction too!
My niece was taken from the world way to soon. The way her family has chosen to keep her memory alive is one that I am so proud to be a part of, and I know all her friends would say the same. In her passing she helped by donating organs, now the community and maybe even those she helped through organ donation can respond with a gift of thanks and love through a financial contribution to keep Rita's Closet not only existing, but thriving, and adding more scholarships for deserving young women who represent our future. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for any donation you can make! More information on Rita's Closet can be found at ritascloset.org. I know it is something Rita would be so proud of!
After Rita's death, her family formed the charitable foundation known as Rita's Closet. The charity is dedicated to accepting donations of dresses and all the accessories that go with dressing for a special occasion. Everything is sold at an incredibly low price and even given to girls who cannot afford to buy a prom outfit. Each year the board of Rita's Closet tries their best to raise funds for college scholarships for worthy and needy students by holding an afternoon tea and fashion show, with volunteers modeling the dresses that are for sale-just in time for prom! The money raised is then used for three scholarships awarded to young women graduating and enrolled in a college, with a major in the arts.
Each year the struggle to keep Rita's Closet up and running gets harder and harder. Rita's mother Tamara, my sister, works with others that donate their time, to make sure that Rita's memory lives on through the sale of new or gently used dresses sold to teens at minimum cost so that they can experience that magical evening-prom night. The main fundraising is in the month of May, in time for prom, but donations are greatly appreciated at any time of year!
My sister's family and all other relatives have seen and felt the suffering of losing such a precious young women just starting to live and look forward to the future. It is a heart wrenching, unimaginable pain! Anyone that met my niece could see that she lived every moment with joy and excitement, sharing that wide eyed wonder with everyone that knew her. The creation of Rita's Closet was a way to focus that grief on something positive.
I know that times are tough for everyone, but please consider a donation. All money is used for storing the dresses, holding the fundraiser, and providing the scholarships, which are distributed by the board of directors. Help is needed to continue to carry on this charity and no gift is too small! Your donation is a tax deduction too!
My niece was taken from the world way to soon. The way her family has chosen to keep her memory alive is one that I am so proud to be a part of, and I know all her friends would say the same. In her passing she helped by donating organs, now the community and maybe even those she helped through organ donation can respond with a gift of thanks and love through a financial contribution to keep Rita's Closet not only existing, but thriving, and adding more scholarships for deserving young women who represent our future. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for any donation you can make! More information on Rita's Closet can be found at ritascloset.org. I know it is something Rita would be so proud of!
Organizer and beneficiary
Cynthia Tucker
Organizer
Bethesda, MD
Tamara Medeiros
Beneficiary