The Marriott® Inn & Conference Center, University of Maryland University College Sponsors Prom Angels Closet

Seniors at High Point High School and Northwestern High School in Prince George’s County will be attending the prom in style this season, thanks to a free shopping spree and makeup tips from experts at The Marriott® Inn & Conference Center, University of Maryland University College’s Prom Angels Closet. This event will be held today, April 1, 2010, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Marriott Inn and Conference Center, located at 3501 University Blvd. E., Hyattsville, MD.

Associates of the Marriott Inn and Conference Center have teamed up with employees at the University of Maryland University College, Success in Style and Alpha Omicron Pi sorority to donate slightly used dresses, shoes, suits, ties and accessories to create a temporary formal wear store in the ballroom of the hotel. Students are invited to come and "shop” for free and select clothing to wear at their upcoming prom. In addition to shopping, the young women are eligible to have experts provide makeup application tips to complete their look.

"My friends and I attended Prom Angels Closet last year and were surprised by the number of really great dresses,” says Africa Davis, then a High Point high school student. "I found a gorgeous red gown, similar to what I’d seen at the mall, and absolutely loved wearing it.”

"The economy is tough right now, so we came up with this idea as a way to help out the kids in the community at a very important time of year for them,” says Michael McCarthy, general manager at the Marriott Inn and Conference Center. "This is the second year that we’ve sponsored this project. We had great success last year and word has spread, so we are expecting an even bigger turnout this year.”

Any clothing that is not taken by the kids will be donated to Success in Style, an Ellicott City-based charity providing used clothing to at-risk women re-entering the work force.

"Many of us have bridesmaid dresses, party dresses and other things that we’ve worn once or twice and now just hang in the closet,” says Patty Campbell, executive assistant at the Marriott Inn and Conference Center and member of the Spirit Committee, the associate-based group that launched Prom Angels Closet. "We figured, why not put them to good use by donating them to people who can really use them. Many families have been affected by layoffs, and with prom dresses retailing for a couple of hundred dollars and up, this will be a significant savings for these kids and their families.”

The Marriott Inn and Conference Center is part of Marriott Hotels & Resorts. It provides a state-of-the-art conference center and 39,000 total square feet of meeting space. The hotel is next to the University of Maryland and features 237 guest rooms, 11 VIP suites, and a concierge lounge. Named the country's first environmentally friendly hotel and conference center, the hotel received its LEED certification from the US Green Building Council. Every facility in the hotel, from the meeting facilities to the guest rooms, uses recyclable materials and energy-saving systems to ensure a positive role on the environment.

In addition to its close proximity to the University of Maryland, College Park, the hotel is also near the FDA White Oak Campus and is convenient to Washington, DC, making it a great venue for business or pleasure visits. For more information about The Marriott® Inn & Conference Center, University of Maryland University College, please visit www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/wasum-the-marriott-inn-and-conference-center-university-of-maryland-university-college/

Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International’s iconic business brand and flagship, inspires your best performance during travel and helps you work, relax and recharge in your own way at nearly 500 hotels in 60 countries. Marriott continues to accommodate life on the road for discerning business and leisure travelers, offering warm, professional service; sophisticated yet functional guest room design; lobby spaces that facilitate working, dining and socializing; meeting and event spaces and services that are the gold standard; and expansive, 24-hour fitness facilities. All Marriott hotels participate in the award-winning Marriott Rewards frequent travel program that allows members to earn hotel points or airline miles for every dollar spent during each stay. For more information, visit www.marriott.com.