Schooled in the art of diplomacy
Alana Fogel of Wantagh High School's class of 2008 planned to attend Philadelphia University. (June 9, 2008) Credit: Newsday / Robert Mecea
Since Alana Fogel was a little girl, she's dreamed about her senior prom. Last month - thanks to her help - dozens of other Long Island girls saw their dreams come true as well.
Starting in September, the Wantagh senior collected more than 200 dresses through Becca's Closet, a nonprofit organization that supplies lightly used formal attire to needy teens. Fogel learned about the charity last year when she met a classmate of Rebecca Kirtman, the Florida student who founded Becca's Closet in 2003 and later died in a car crash.
"It broke my heart to hear that someone so good could die so suddenly," said Fogel, who had been studying fashion at Nassau BOCES' Joseph M. Barry Career & Technical Education Center (Barry Tech) in Westbury. "Having an interest in that field, I was the perfect person to help."
After gaining Barry Tech's approval, the fashion-minded Fogel launched the third Becca's Closet chapter on Long Island - one of only seven active in New York State. She then kicked off an intense promotional campaign that included dress-wearing mannequins in Barry Tech's front window, a speech in front of 50 Nassau County guidance counselors, and a series of loudspeaker announcements and hallway posters at Barry Tech and Wantagh.
She also contacted several local newspapers and radio stations - including WHTZ-FM, "Z-100,'' which mentioned her efforts during its "Z Morning Zoo" show.
"At first, I was very unhappy because I only had 20 or so dresses, but then it took off," said Fogel, whose biggest donor was a group of upstate cheerleaders who drove down to donate 80 dresses.
In late April, Fogel officially opened the door to Becca's Closet at Barry Tech and had given away about 25 dresses - which span all styles, sizes and colors - as of early June. She also helped with hemming, if necessary.
"Alana is not the type of student to let life pass her by," said Margaret Swanson, her guidance counselor. "She's a vibrant young woman with a sincere and energetic personality."
Fogel, who also has a passion for dance and drumming, will study fashion design at Philadelphia University this fall.
