Prom season is here, but so are rising prices that threaten to make going to the prom an unaffordable luxury for many young people. That’s why Westchester County is once again partnering with the Operation Prom National Network to provide free prom dresses and tuxedos for Westchester County high school students.
The Operation Prom 2026 Prom Formal Wear Giveaway will take place at the Westchester County Center Friday, May 1 – Sunday, May 3.
On Friday, May 1, dresses and tuxedos, as well as shoes and accessories, will be available to school groups.
On Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., high school seniors with a valid school ID or report card can come on their own without a school group for free prom wear. Register online here: https://forms.gle/MgV763VyrKfyEvS16
After they gear up, students can join Operation Prom on Saturday for a prom prep event just up the road from the County Center at the College of Westchester at 325 Central Avenue. There will be makeup tutorials, mini-makeovers, a raffle for free prom tickets, food and other prizes.
On Sunday, May 4, Operation Prom will be open at the County Center to all high school students from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. You can register to attend on Sunday here: https://forms.gle/CH3hveAfCg4t8uft8
After the students are done on Sunday, there will be a public dress sale until 2 p.m. with prices beginning at $10. Proceeds will benefit Operation Prom.
More information is available on the Operation Prom website events page: https://promnationalnetwork.org/events/
To help students get to Operation Prom, the County is making Bee-Line Bus Rides free to the County Center for students who show their student IDs.
Boston College economist Jay L. Zagorsky, who created a prom index to track prom expenses, told The Washington Post last month that the cost of prom dresses is up 10% from this time last year, hair and makeup services are up more than 5% in that same period, and the cost of prom tickets is up 128% since 2000.
With current costs, prom expenses can run into the hundreds and in some cases thousands of dollars, making prom affordability a major challenge for many Westchester families.
County Executive Ken Jenkins said: “The high school prom is a rite of passage when lasting memories are formed. It’s not just a night out or a big date, but it’s a chance for students to celebrate together as part of a shared community. We want to make sure that every child in Westchester, regardless of the means, has a chance to feel both the excitement of the big night, and the sense of community inclusion. For 22 years we’ve been proud to work with Noel D’Allacco and Operation Prom to make that happen for an entire generation of school kids.”
Leonard Townes, Department of Social Services Commissioner, said: “Operation Prom is one of my favorite events on the annual County calendar. Seeing the young men and women choosing their outfits and knowing they’re going to have a chance to look their best on their big night, seeing how it uplifts them and fills them with self-esteem, is wonderful to witness. I know the prom can be emotionally stressful for teenagers, and financially stressful for families. I’m really gratified that we’re able to work together with Operation Prom to remove a little bit of that stress and help to create a night to remember.”
Noel D’Allacco, Operation Prom National Network founder, said: “I’m so grateful for more than two decades of partnership with Westchester County. Together, we have been able to make sure that the experience of the prom is accessible to all students regardless of their economic circumstances. I want to thank County Executive Jenkins and Commissioner Townes. As they’ve said, we’re doing more than just making sure young people look good on prom night, we’re making them feel like they belong.”