About Us
The Princess Project promotes self-confidence and individual beauty by providing free prom dresses and accessories to high school girls who cannot otherwise afford them. Our effort is made possible through invaluable volunteer, donor and community support.
Learn more about how The Princess Project works or about the history of our event since its founding year, 2002.
How the Princess Project Works
Every year, The Princess Project seeks and receives thousands of beautiful new or nearly new dresses and accessories in EXCELLENT condition from individual donors and corporate partners.
Hundreds of volunteers accept and organize these dresses and accessories to run an exciting giveaway event in the early spring for individual high school girls. Groups of ten or more teens who want to attend can make an appointment for a private boutique.
Each year, hundreds of Bay Area girls attend the dress giveaway to find that new prom dress and those perfect accessories to make their high school prom a reality. And it’s all FREE!
Since 2002, The Princess Project has served over 9,000 girls through the dedication of more than 700 volunteers and the generous start-up support of Coro Northern California. In 2005, The Princess Project became a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Event History
2002
One girl. One email. Hundreds of dresses. The Princess Project began in February 2002 when one girl needed a dress for her prom. Our founders, Laney Whitcanack and Kristi Smith Knutson, responded to her simple request for help by collecting dresses from friends and family. Within days, women from all over the Bay Area responded with overwhelming support through donations of their “time, talent, and taffeta,” and so The Princess Project was born.
2003
The Princess Project holds its annual event, expanding service to include three boutique nights for groups of girls and doubling the number of girls engaged to 650.
2004
The Princess Project continues to grow its outreach, dressing nearly 1,000 girls for prom and raising a record $20,000 in direct support for the event.
2005
The Princess Project experiences a banner year—serving over 1,200 girls and becoming an official 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
2006
Through the two boutique nights and giveaway events, The Princess Project serves a record number of girls, over 5,000 to-date! A satellite chapter in the South Bay has its first year reaching more high school girls and sending them to prom in confidence and style.
2007
With the Silicon Valley & San Francisco locations running like a well-oiled machine, we serve over 1,800 high school girls! Prom has never been so stylish!
2008
Three’s a Company as we expand to our third location in the East Bay with a generous grant from The Barrios Trust! Our national press coverage includes a spot on America’s Next Prom Queen. Co-Founders Laney Whitcanack & Kristi Smith Knutson win the prestigious Jefferson Award
2009
Expanding to our 4th location in sunny San Diego, The Princess Project served 3,384 in 2009! Every event had an overwhelming turnout of enthusiastic girls and volunteers…all ready to shop for a prom dress! Our organization was the recipient of Google Grants to help increase our girl outreach.
I knew volunteering for The Princess Project was going to be a special experience, but my day was absolutely made with the first girl that walked in…. We produced a lot of smiles that day, and it was a wonderful feeling." 
