February 2004
Donate Your Dress
After the wedding, that perfect dress is usually never worn again—but it can brighten the lives of others and reap a tax deduction
Who says a wedding dress can only be worn once? Instead of packing that gorgeous gown among a mountain of mothballs, consider donating it (and your bridesmaids’ dresses) to a worthy cause.
Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation collects and resells used wedding and bridesmaid dresses. The proceeds are donated to the families of women dying of breast cancer in order to create lasting memories. (www.makingmemories.org)
The Cinderella Project is a Los Angeles-based organization that collects formal gowns to be given to needy inner-city girls for their wedding, prom or graduation. They also accept donations of groomsmen’s tuxedos. (www.cinderellaproject.org)
The Bridal Garden, a boutique in New York City, accepts donations of new and used wedding gowns to sell back to the public. The profits go towards helping underprivileged children through programs created by Sheltering Arms Children Service. (www.bridalgarden.org)
Most of these programs offer tax-deduction receipts in return for your donation.
