Inwood Academy Celebrates Prom with TLC's 'Say Yes to the Prom'

Inwood Academy for Leadership Charter School hosted its all-expenses paid prom night at Current at Chelsea Piers on Feb. 15, courtesy of TLC’s Say Yes to the Prom initiative.

As the winners of TLC’s Win a Dream Prom For Your School contest (in partnership with Seventeen magazine), students from the Washington Heights-based school previously received a complimentary shopping spree  on Jan. 25 to prepare for their big day.

“This morning [about 9:00 a.m.] the trucks and party planning people came in and set everything up,” said Adria Alpert Romm, chief human resources and global diversity officer of Discovery Communications, of the venue preparation. “We had it all designed ahead of time. We talked to the school and wanted to know what they wanted in their prom.”

Monte Durham of TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta was also in attendance for Inwood Academy for Leadership Charter School’s prom night, wearing a custom-designed jacket from Macy’s.

“This is kind of what we’ve been waiting for, for quite a while,” Durham said of the event. “Inwood Academy wins, and then they come in, and then we jack them up for prom, so they get all of those beautiful dresses, tuxedos, accessories…but tonight, we’re going to see them actually dressed for prom.”

Alpert Romm’s predictions about the students not knowing how fantastic the venue was going to look were correct. Upon their Hollywood red-carpet style arrival, students— wearing their Macy’s gowns and tuxedos from the shopping spree—were amazed at the way Current was transformed for their special night.

“It [exceeded] my expectations,” said Fabian Garcia, 17. “Looking at the place for the first time is just so incredible. It’s breathtaking.”