The Cinderella Ball is most certainly about raising money for Safe Places, because working with children and families who have been devastated by violence is a cause that desperately needs funding.
The Cinderella Ball is most certainly about raising awareness as well, because children are victims of every day of sexual violence, family violence, bullying, child maltreatment, abduction, trafficking, and most every other violent crime one could mention.
But The Cinderella Ball is NOT about debutantes and it is most certainly not about "The Prince." As the Cheetah Girls proclaim in their song, Cinderella:
When I was just a little girl,
My mama used to tuck me into bed,
And she read me a story.
It always was about a princess in distress
And how a guy would save her
And end up with the glory.
I don’t wanna be like Cinderella,
Sitting in a dark, cold, dusty cellar,
Waiting for somebody to come and set me free.
I don’t wanna be like someone waiting
For a handsome prince to come and save me . . .I’d rather rescue myself.
I can slay my own dragons. I can dream my own dreams.
My knight in shining armor is me.
So I'm gonna set me free.
The young women in our program love the enchantment of being presented at the Ball, but what they also know is what they learn as a part of their leadership program: that violence against women and children - sexual violence, domestic abuse, harassment, and violence in any form - is NOT OK!
So The Cinderella Ball and Princess Leadership Program is not about the prince; It's about personal empowerment that allows individuals to live their lives free of violence.
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