By Dayton Keffer
Igniting Passions for Saving Lives and Empowering Women
Gwyneth’s Gift Foundation is thrilled to announce the success of its 4th Annual Mom Prom, held under the theme “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend.” Hosted at Stevenson Ridge, this year’s sold-out Mom Prom proved to be a memorable evening filled with elegance and philanthropy. It epitomized luxury and sophistication, all while fostering empowerment among women and igniting a passion for saving lives.
The History of Mom Prom:
According to the Mom Prom website, the first Mom Prom was hosted in Canton, Michigan in 2006 by Betsy Crapps. Mom Prom’s are described as “a ladies night out” specifically designed for use with charities and nonprofits. Women can wear their old prom gowns, bridesmaids dresses, wedding gowns, or anything they have in their closet to dance the night away for a worthy cause.
Mom Prom’s had become so popular over the years that Crapps trademarked the name in 2011. However, she has never, “made a dime from Mom Prom.”
If done with the intention to give back to charity, people may use Crapps’s trademarked Mom Prom at no cost. All that is required is to sign the trademark and licensing agreement, use the logo and give the proceeds to charity.
“I was meant to share this idea with everyone,” said Crapps. “Mom Prom is about women helping women. It’s also about having women feel empowered… I feel like we are always caregivers and [with Mom Prom] this is something that is not only fun for the women who attend but also does so much good for the people who need it.”
About the success of other Mom Proms, “It has been a privilege and an honor for me to be a part of these women’s lives,” said Crapps. “To hear about what people are doing [their Mom Prom’s for]… and so many good people doing good things for others.”
Crapps also attributes the success to Mom Proms as being an event based on having a good time for a good cause. She recalls what one Mom Prom attendee said to her years ago which was, “I don’t have time to walk for three days, I can’t golf, and I can’t bake… but Mom Prom? That’s something I can do!”
Gwyneth’s Gift’s 4th Annual Mom Prom:
Gwyneth’s Gift’s 2024 Mom Prom, Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend, was a night of elegance and glamor hosted at Stevenson Ridge and emceed by United States of America’s Mrs. Virginia 2024, Kelly Dierberger.
Gwyneth’s Gift’s 4th Annual Mom Prom was complete with a Marilyn Monroe impersonator, silent auction, raffle, photo booths, dancers, themed foods and signature cocktails and the highlight of the night, the 2024 Mom Prom Queen Coronation.
Every ticket purchase for the event includes a raffle ticket that can be used to nominate oneself or another as Mom Prom Queen for the year. Oftentimes, people will continue to purchase dozens of tickets to nominate themselves or a loved one with the hope of being chosen as that year’s Queen.
The crowning of the Mom Prom Queen is always an uplifting and empowering moment for both the winner and The Foundation. Gwyneth’s Gift Foundation always hopes that the new Queen will become an ambassador of their organization’s vision of creating a Culture of Action and help them in their mission of raising awareness of Hands-Only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and the use of Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs).
The Mom Prom Queen of 2023, Mary Gordon, crowned Emily Aylor as the new Mom Prom Queen of 2024.
Emily became involved with Gwyneth’s Gift through volunteering for the organization and connecting with the president and Co-Founder of Gwyneth’s Gift, Jennifer Griffin, through the horse rescue Central Virginia Horse Rescue in Spotsylvania.
“[Being crowned] felt so surreal!”, said Emily. “I am excited for the role of Queen in 2024 and I am just excited to become involved and help out Gwyneth’s Gift with everything they do.”
Gwyneth’s Gift Foundation holds a deep appreciation for the continued success of their annual Mom Prom.
“Mom Prom Fredericksburg holds a unique place in the heart of our organization, symbolizing the collective commitment of women in the region to truly impact the outcomes of individuals facing sudden cardiac arrest,” said Veronica Gutierrez, Director of Operations at Gwyneth’s Gift Foundation. “We feel incredibly fortunate to have a supportive community that consistently rallies behind our efforts and the mission of our organization.”
Mom Prom is also a special moment for Gwyneth’s Gift Foundation in terms of Gwyneth Griffin’s legacy.
“Women empowerment is something we want to build and that’s something we have done across all ages [since founding Gwyneth’s Gift]. We enjoy having our Mom Prom because it allows women in the community to gather around a central cause,” said Jennifer Griffin, President and Co-Founder of Gwyneth’s Gift Foundation.
“Gwyneth was a dancer,” said Jennifer. “Any chance she got her feet were moving. She loved dancing, loved music, loved people and always had a smile to share with you. Our Mom Prom is about women gathering together, letting our hair down, dancing through the night, being who we are, and having fun.”
Proceeds earned from Gwyneth’s Gift’s 2024 Mom Prom go towards supporting their vision of creating a Culture of Action and mission to raise awareness of Hands-Only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).
The impact of this year’s Mom Prom, Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend, was truly remarkable. But here’s the exciting part – the fun doesn’t stop here! Mark your calendars for next year’s Mom Prom and secure your tickets early. Stay tuned by signing up for our newsletter and following us on social media! Next year’s Mom Prom promises to be an even bigger event, adding to the excitement with a brand new location. Join us in the rhythm of raising awareness for sudden cardiac arrest and making a difference. Your support fuels our mission, and we can’t wait to see you on the dance floor again next year.
