Prom dresses are taking a second spin on the dance floor thanks to MAOTeen 2011 Elizabeth Fechtel and nonprofit organizations in Florida. Gently used prom dresses donated to Loft 181 on behalf of Caitlin's Closet will be collected this month, and given away to teenage girls in foster care.

"Ask any girl, and she will tell you that half the fun of going to prom is the process of getting ready and figuring out what to wear," Elizabeth says. "As a senior in high school, I know there are many girls who feel held back from attending prom because of financial reasons. Prom is the highlight of the year, and I am proud to support such a rewarding cause."

Another former MAOT, Caitlin Brunell, founded Caitlin's Closet, and collected more than nine thousand prom dresses to donate to girls in need. To donate your prom or cocktail dress or pageant gown, mail it by March 10 to

MAOTeen, Inc.
℅ Elizabeth Fechtel
13911 W Hillsborough Ave Ste 168
Tampa, FL 33635

If you are a current or former titleholder, include a headshot and a message for the teens. Prom accessories will also be accepted. Include the value of the donation to receive a tax receipt.

E-mail for more information.

Source: MAOTeen Photo: Jenn Cady

Catch up with Elizabeth Fechtel, MAOTeen 2012, after her week with Philadelphia, PA.

Once Elizabeth performs, she will join Miss Delaware 2011 Maria Cahill, Miss New Jersey 2011 Katharyn Nicolle, Miss Pennsylvania 2011 Juliann Sheldon, Miss Delaware's Outstanding Teen 2011 Victoria Brown-O'Brien, Miss New Jersey's Outstanding Teen 2011 Natalie Ragazzo, Miss Pennsylvania's Outstanding Teen 2011 Kaitlynne Kline, and seven of Miss America's Outstanding Teen Princesses as they ride on the Kittens float through the parade route. There will be about 850,000 people that participate in this year's parade and it will be viewed in more than 3.2 million homes across the nation. We wish Elizabeth and all of our MAO and MAOTeen participants the best of luck.

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Welcome to our new MAOTeen Elizabeth Fechtel! And welcome home to me! Now that I'm back in the office and have my desk cleaned off (that's no small task, trust me) , let's talk about MAOTeen. What a great week! I hope that you guys stayed in touch with the pageant happenings through our Twitter, Facebook, and all the articles/videos on the web. In case you couldn't tell, fourpoints had a total blast during pageant week! Every year, it's so inspiring to see our relationship with MAOTeen grow. And each class of contestants is just as wonderful as the last.

Another of of the best things about MAOTeen is that I get a "sneak peek" at the 2012 Miss America contestants. I had the pleasure of chatting with our Miss America 2011 Teresa Scanlan while she signed autographs at our booth during pageant week. She was as lovely as ever. It's so impressive to me to see a Miss America about halfway through her year of service, and she is as fresh and cheerful as the day she was crowned. Every reigning Miss America I have ever met has been that way, and - well, let's just say that I don't think I would be so pleasant!  It was nice to have a moment to talk with Teresa.

I also got to do one of my favorite things, which is have my makeup done by an Aristrty professional. I am seriously in love with their products - and I'm not just saying that! He even managed to make me look believably tan - a true artist!

Of course, the most exciting part of the week is seeing our new MAOTeen crowned. Elizabeth is going to do a great job and I can't wait for you guys to see her on the cover of the October/November issue.

As a final note, though, I want to extend my congratulations and affection to the entire MAOTeen class. Time and time again, I find myself thinking that every contestant who competes really wins. As Donna Bozarth mentioned during pageant week, MAOTeen has already written half a million dollars in scholarship checks. And those didn't go to just the winners of the national pageant. So many young women are stepping into their future with scholarship money, a great skill set, and an unforgettable experience.

During pageant week, I had the chance to speak to some of the contestants. They all had wonderful things to say, but one thing has stuck with me. Miss New Hampshire's Outstanding Teen Lauren Percy gave MAOTeen the highest accolades it could ever receive. She said, "This organization has give me the confidence to take my make-up off and just be who I am."

I hope that every young lady had the same experience that Lauren did.