It seems a lot of women want to be 16 again.
The Mom Prom started as a night out for a dozen women to revisit their high school years, but it’s growing into a national phenomenon. On Friday, April 24, local women will have the opportunity to leave the kids and husband home and dance the night away at a prom put on by the Mom’s Group at St. Thomas a Becket Catholic Church in Canton. This year’s charity event takes place from 8-11 p.m. at the church with proceeds going to the First Step domestic violence shelter and St. Vincent de Paul. Even those who have outgrown their prom gowns improvise. Betsy Crapps still fits into the dress she wore as a senior to her high school prom in 1988. “This is our fourth year. The first year there were just 12 of us,” said Crapps of Canton. “We went to dinner and dancing in our dresses. We said we should put our gowns to good use and more women heard about it, friends and relatives in different states. My son even helped me out to do a Web site for women to hold their own charity event. We have a tackiest dress contest. “Last year some women came in with T-shirts on underneath their gowns because they couldn’t zip up the back. A lot of women wear old bridesmaid dresses. Last year three women wore their wedding gowns. Some go out to consignment shops just to find something to wear for the tackiest dress contest. It’s a night for women to be silly and 16 again.” “One woman last year said I haven’t laughed that hard since before I was married,” said Crapps. “We can act 16 again. We just have fun. It’s a night for women to celebrate and have fun and raise money for a good cause.” Last year, one of the women in the moms group was diagnosed with breast cancer so the money went to the Karmanos Cancer Institute. This year, admission to The Mom Prom is a $20 donation, but no one will be turned away because of an inability to pay. Tickets are available on the night of the prom or before at St. Thomas a Becket church at 555 S. Lilley and Cherry Hill. For more information, visit or send e-mail to themompromyahoo.com.
Bonnie Wojciechowski, Katie Long, Betsy Crapps, Julie Molchany, Jessica Gaderick, and Patsy Wilson attended last year’s Mom Prom at St. Thomas a Becket in Canton. This year’s dance takes place Friday, April 24.