Catherine
was an honor student and valedictorian of her class at Clifford
Scott High School in East Orange, New Jersey. She was aspiring
to be a doctor. A 14 year old in a stolen vehicle rammed into
the car driven by Courtney, Catherine's twin sister, killing Catherine
. She was buried in her prom dress. In an essay she once wrote
Catherine said, "People will know my name not for fame
or fortune or out of Vanity, but they will know me because I have
helped someone."
Catherine Closet needs
help making High School girls' dreams come true.
Over 6000 girls in New York/New Jersey have benefited
from the generosity of Catherine Closet, Inc., a non-profit
organization that was responsible for dressing girls in designer
Armani, Ralph Lauren, and Jessica McClintock for their prom. Students who completed 30 - 100 hours of community service
with Catherine's Closet, received scholarships for their
outstanding service in our organization.
Three chapters of Catherine's Closet were launched in the lower
eastside of New York, Perth Amboy, New Jersey and Tucson, Az.
Sandra Kessler, Catherine's
Closet Founder, collected $80,000 worth of toys and books,
then distributed the gifts to over 10,000 children in Newark and
East Orange. Media coverage for the aforementioned events has
been viewed on BET Nightly News, ABC, CBS, NBC, Channel 9, Channel
13, on the Channel 12 News segment - "Positively New Jersey",
and on the God Squad. Articles have appeared in the Star Ledger,
New York Times, People Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, Christian
Science Monitor, Prom Time Magazine, as well as many local newspapers
throughout New Jersey.
Over the past six years the importance of having students do community service with our organization has become a significant mission of Catherine's
Closet. Self-esteem is elevated with participation in the project
. Many students have collected gowns, designed and redesigned
gowns for admission to F.I.T. and several girls have become spokeswomen
for the project.
Catherine's Closet - Press Release - Click Here
Founder, Dr. Sandy Kessler - Biography - Click Here
