Community Creates Quinceañera Celebration for Local Girl’s

Community Creates Quinceañera Celebration for Local Girl’s

September 05, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Crittenton Services for Children and Families

Martha Jasso, Director of Communications

(714) 680-6008

mjasso@crittentonsocal.org

 

FULLERTON, Calif. –  In collaboration with Crittenton Services for Children and Families (CSCF), the Muckenthaler Cultural Center,  the YWCA of North Orange County, the WTLC, Pathways of Hope, the Boys & Girls Club of Fullerton, and several other local organizations the First Annual Quinceañera Celebration for 25 girls was held on September 5, 2013 at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center. This community collaboration brings together the efforts and resources of a number of local businesses and nonprofit organizations in order to provide young girls with an evening of glitz, glamour, and a chance to be a part of a coming of age celebration.

Crittenton Quinceañeras getting ready for their big day.

Crittenton Quinceañeras getting ready for their big day.

For many of the girls who participated in this event the opportunity to fund their own Quinceañeras was nearly impossible as many of the young ladies who were selected as the 2013 Quinceañeras are of modest means.

“It was a joy working with such committed organizations that did everything they could to help empower young women, and to drive the message home that every girl that participated was beautiful inside and out,” said Martha Jasso, Director of Communications, CSCF.

CSCF was given the opportunity to have 11 designated spots in this year’s festivities. A total of nine girls and two boys from our Residential Treatment Center, Youth Shelter Program, Wraparound Services Program, and Foster Care Agency were selected to enjoy beautiful custom wardrobe, a full day of beauty and relaxation, obtained dance training for the event, and given this special opportunity that would otherwise not have existed for them.

A Quinceañera, meaning “one who is fifteen,” is the celebration of a girl’s fifteenth birthday in Latin American cultures. It marks a girl’s transition from childhood to young womanhood. The Quinceañera’s court includes seven pairs of damas (dames) and chambelanes (chamberlains) who participate in a series of ballroom dances, as well as traditional Latin American dances.

Gowns for this event were provided by the YWCA of North Orange County through their Prom Dress Program. The girls were taught dance routines by Fullerton-based CF Dance Academy, as well as frequent Muckenthaler Cultural Center performers, Ballet Folklorico Monte Alban. Etiquette lessons were taught by the Fullerton Chamber of Commerce, while hair and make-up services were be provided by Salon LuJon. A DJ for the event was also provided by the Boys & Girls Club of Fullerton and the decadent dinner provided by Colette’s Catering.

In addition, the the Orange County Community Foundation provided generous financial support for the event and Soroptimists of La Habra and Brea provided flowers.

The goal of this special event is to help these young women feel like princesses. More importantly, the participating organizations hope to give the girls positive messages and skills for their passage into womanhood, as is one of the primary purposes of a Quinceañera.

For more information about the partners:

Boys & Girls Club Fullerton

CF Dance Academy

Colette’s Catering Extraordinaire

Crittenton Services for Children and Families

Fullerton Chamber of Commerce

Grupo Folklorico Monte Alban

Muckenthaler Cultural Center

Orange County Community Foundation

Pathways of Hope

Salon Lujon

Soroptimists

WTLC

YWCA

Crittenton Services for Children and Families of Southern California (CSCF) is a non-profit social services agency whose mission is to heal the wounds of abuse and neglect; strengthen families; and help troubled adolescents reach their full potential. Established and incorporated in 1966 Crittenton has a highly trained workforce operating 24 hours a day / 7 days a week providing comprehensive counseling, medical, and other support services to the clients in our care. We provide a full array of residential, in-home, community based, wraparound, mental health, foster care, and adoption services with a service planning area throughout Southern California that covers Orange, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego Counties. Visit www.crittentonsocal.org to learn more about our programs and connect with us on FacebookTwitterYouTubeLinkedInGoogle+, and Flickr.

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Topics: Non-Profit, Non-Profit Leadership, Civic Engagement, Philanthrophy

Geography: Orange County, Calif., Fullerton, Calif.