Dress Giveaway Helps Poor Kids Achieve Prom

The high-school prom is a costly American rite of passage. Most kids consider it a must, but prom is out of reach for many students from poor families. Recently, the Assistance League of Los Angeles held its annual prom dress giveaway, a reward to girls from poor or homeless families for their high academic achievement despite the odds. It's not the apex of their lives; it's a payoff for their hard work and a gentle encouragement to stick to their goals. NPR's Karen Grigsby Bates attended the giveaway.