One Mom is keeping her daughter’s memory alive by giving away prom dresses to girls who may not be able to afford one, so they can feel like a million dollars on their once-in-a-lifetime special night.
Tammi’s Closet gives away free prom dresses to any girl who wants one
Betty Vitale-Neal said goodbye to her beautiful daughter 22 years ago this March, but she keeps her memory alive through the amazing philanthropy of Tammi’s Closet, giving away free prom dresses to any girl who wants one. Tammi’s Closet was named in honor of Vitale’s 19-year-old daughter who died in a car accident in 1996, and has captured the imagination of countless people over the past four years since opening.
“I give away free prom dresses to girls who otherwise can not afford them.”
Meet Betty Vitale-Neal. On March 4, 1996 her 19-year-old daughter Tammi was killed in a car accident. In April of 2013 Betty opened Tammi’s Closet in her memory. She says, “I give away free prom dresses to girls who otherwise can not afford them.”
Two years ago someone stole 15 free prom dresses and it got alot of news coverage. “I ended up being on Chronicle, and on every news station I know.” Says Betty on her GoFundMe campaign page. “I ended up recieving more than 700 prom dresses in donations from across the USA. No kidding I got dresses from California, Kansas, Ohio, Florida, Tennessee, and a few more places.”
Betty had to rent a store front last year, as the place she had been using had become too small for all her dresses. Her church, Main Street Congregational Church, in Amesbury, Massachusetts, generously paid her rent of $1600 last year, and this year Betty was able to secure the same store front for the same rent, only this year she had to raise it through Go Fund Me, plus a kind donation from Institutional Bank of Savings and Newburyport Five Cents Savings.
Source: GoFundMe/TammisCloset
Help Betty Cover The Costs with GoFundMe
“I had an interview today and the person thought it would be smart to maybe start trying to collect now to put away for next year. So I am going to try. I have had a bit of a difficult time this year so far because of MOTHER NATURE, I gave away 256 dresses last year, this year I am only at 75 so far. Thank you from HEAVEN for all your generosity and helping a mom keep her daughter’s name alive.” — Betty Vitale-Neal