PS 150 Students In Sunnyside Get Hollywood Makeover

Ricki Lake, eat your heart out. With three weeks remaining in the school year and the prom just around the corner, PS 150s sixth graders had some shopping to do. But with most of the students coming from disadvantaged backgrounds, the 12- and 13-year-olds couldnt afford to buy the dresses and shoes they needed.
PS 150 is a Title I school and, as a result, receives federal funding that includes free breakfasts and lunches for its students.
Nobody said anything about makeovers. But thats exactly what they got.
Last week, sixth grade teacher Ilene Balsamo took 29 of her students on a shopping spree to Queens Center mall as part of a goodwill blitz by New York Community Bank, Avon, Queens Center mall and a number of other businesses to provide the children with the accessories they needed to enjoy the prom, which took place on Friday.
"It was amazing. The whole community pitched in," said Balsamo, who spearheaded the effort. "The boys didnt have shoes. The girls didnt have anything to wear. They felt like such failures because they didnt own a dress. They didnt have a clue what they didnt have. But when they went shopping to see their change in attitude and to see their faces light up when they dressed up for the prom it was amazing. Their self-esteem was so high."
Queens Center mall, at the behest of Dawn Simon in marketing, gave each student a $50 gift certificate to buy dresses and shoes. Avon furnished the girls with make-up. Peters Market on Francis Lewis Boulevard catered the event at nearly 50% off. Send In The Clowns, a Flushing party supplier provided a DJ and equipment, also at half price. The Queens Couriers publisher, Vicki Schneps, offered to foot the bill for getting their hair done. Sunnyside Pharmacy even gave the kids $50 worth of quarters for subways.  
"This was the opportunity of the lifetime," said 11-year-old Anamika Das. "We dont usually get to buy free things. This was kind of different."
"Its amazing what can get accomplished when a neighborhood comes together," Balsamo said.
The neighborhood was essentially paying her students back for all of the community services they do in Queens. Balsamos class plants flowers in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park as part of the Smarty Plants program. They recently did a walk for diabetes and Transitional Services For The Blind. They helped erase graffiti as part of the Sunnyside Clean-Up effort. They collected money with a penny harvest and donated the proceeds to charity. Balsamos class is the mayors answer to keeping the city clean and vibrant.
PS 150s prom was initially approached with a little trepidation. In the end though, it ended up being one of the highlights of the school year for the students.
"When I bought my dress, it made me feel so good," said Sunnyside resident, Asya Abbas. "When the Queens [Center] mall gave me a $50 gift certificate, I was so happy because normally you dont see such generous people around. I found out that people can be generous."
Megan Somano, who had her eyebrows plucked for the occasion, learned a different type of lesson.    
"I learned that it takes a little pain to get beautiful."