Support Prom Equality for Booker T. Students

Hi everyone,

I'm reaching out to you today with a heartfelt plea to help make prom night truly magical for the incredible Students with Exceptionalities at Booker T. Washington High School on Saturday, May 10th!

As many of you know, Booker T. Washington High School is where my daughter, Mackenzie, attends school. Many may not know that Booker T. Washington High School holds a significant place in Atlanta's history as the first school in the city in the south to provide a high school education to African Americans and the 1st high school in the south to serve African American Students with Exceptionalities.

It's a legacy of providing opportunity and fostering growth, and I believe every student within its walls deserves the full and joyous experience of prom. It broke my heart to learn that our amazing students with disabilities were not going to have the same comprehensive prom experience as their neurotypical peers, due to the financial barriers that many families face in supporting students with exceptionalities. Furthermore, I discovered that some of these students were even struggling to afford their prom tickets. This just didn't sit right with me.

That's why I'm leaning in and spearheading an effort to create something truly special for them: a Gentlemen's Den & Glam Suite and Prom Send Off! I didn't feel right making sure Mackenzie had the experience of a lifetime, but all of her classmates didn't.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of Metro Fresh Midtown, I am thrilled to announce they will be sponsoring a delicious dinner for our students and their families before prom at the Prom Send Off. This is a huge step, but there are still some crucial needs to fulfill to make this vision a complete success.

My goal is to raise $1,025 to create a dedicated Gentlemen's Den and Glam Suite at a private location. This comfortable and celebratory space will be transformed into havens where our students can:

Get their hair styled and cut

Have their nails done

Receive a professional make-up application

Enjoy a catered brunch while getting ready

Following their pampering sessions at this private location, Mackenzie's classmates and paraprofessionals will be able to go home and get ready for the amazing Prom Send-off at Metro Fresh. There, after enjoying dinner with their families, they will experience the Official Prom Send-off in elegant carriages from Metro Fresh directly to The Piedmont Room for their prom!

It's important to note that Booker T. Washington High School is NOT sponsoring this initiative in any way. This is not because the school does not want to support it, but because the school simply doesn't have the budget to support this endeavor.

This is simply me, stepping up because I believe Mackenzie and all her classmates deserve this, and now I'm asking for a little help from Team Mackenzie (that's you!) to make it happen.

Here's how you can be a part of making these dreams a reality:

Donating funds for items and services not available on Amazon: These funds will help cover costs like professional stylists, barbers, transportation (the carriages!), venue costs for the private location, decorations, and any unforeseen needs.

Here is a breakdown of the quotes I have received thus far:

Gentleman's Den and Glam Suite - Venue Cost of renting a salon near the school to make it easier for the students to get there is - $1400

3 Prom Tickets for 3 students that do not have tickets - $441 ( Prom tickets are now $147 each)

2nd Carriage - $299 (Mackenzie's Carriage was secured and paid for back in December) - the 2nd Carriage is for 3 students and a Paraprofessional

Catered Brunch and Supplies for 14 - $450

Fees for Hairstylists, Barber, Makeup Artist, and Nail Tech - $500

Photographer - $300

Decorating Team and Decorations - $400

That total is $3,790.

I have received $1465 in donations thus far, and I am $1,025.00

short.

Every single contribution, no matter the size, will directly impact the joy and memories created for these deserving students at Booker T. Washington High School, a school with a proud history of serving its diverse student body. Let's come together and show our Students with Exceptionalities that their community cares and wants them to have a prom night they will cherish forever, complete with a glamorous start at a special location and a fairytale arrival!

For accountability and to answer the questions 1 time as to why the amount I am trying to get help with is what it is... here you go:

I am only trying to raise $1,025 to cover what couldn't be achieved through the Amazon Wish List. Since my child is a part of this class, I am covering the amount that I was going to spend anyway, which is about $1,300, towards the total. I was going to do a Prom send-off for Mackenzie anyway, but by including her classmates, the expenses started to add up.

I hope this answers any questions, and if you have others, please contact me.

Thank you for your kindness and support!

Warmly,

Nikki - Mackenzie's Mom