Friday — May 7, 2004

Fully pampered, for once

Hailey girl surprised to be Paula’s Prom Girl

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By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

"It’s all about the dress," Paula Proctor says with a flourish whilst discussing school proms. She should know. She is the proprietor of Paula’s, a fine dress shop in Ketchum, which, in the case of the upcoming prom season, is a hub of activity.

As the store did last year, Paula’s is also sponsoring a Wood River High School senior. With the organizing help of employee Marianne Brehmer, who is a junior at WRHS, various businesses and individuals donated to give a deserving student a memorable prom.

The Wood River High School Prom is Saturday, May 8, at Warm Springs Lodge.

With all the pieces in place only one thing remained. Who would be the lucky girl? Eventually, Jenny Borda was chosen by WRHS counselors Kimberly Hochendoner, Donna Sipe and Linda Blackburn. Jenny’s parents are Nancy and Eric Palmer, of Hailey.

"We know that Paula wants to gift a girl with a dress each year," Hochendoner said. "Jenny’s involved in school and plays several sports, plays in the band and works on weekends. She’s a good student and she’s got wherewithal to survive in the world. But it’s tough to pick just one girl. She’s a sweetheart."

Being chosen was a huge surprise to the tall willowy senior.

"I got a note to see my counselor and Kim told me that Paula’s had selected me to be the prom girl," Borda said.

As such, she is being fully outfitted, buffed, coifed and bejeweled for the special night.

First stop for Jenny was Paula’s where she chose her outfit from among any dress in the store. She also received a shawl, handbag and a pair of elegant strap-on heels. She eventually selected a celery green column dress by designer Dina Bar-Elle. Next a bracelet and earrings were custom made to match by DeEtte Lindberg Designs. Leslie Bergl, of Undercover Agency has again donating the lingerie.

Vivien Conner, of Total Body Care gave her a facial, while her sister Lorraine Conner did Jenny’s manicure and pedicure. On Saturday, the day of the prom, Joanne Brand from The Third Floor in Hailey is doing her hair. Make-up artist Noelle Hodge comes in last to finish Jenny’s transformation.

Another bonus came by way of the generous Proctor. Her sister, Alicia Proctor, a 1986 graduate of WRHS, is now the Head of Visuals for Lancôme in New York. She donated a goody bag of Spring 2004 make-up for Jenny to take home.

If all the above were not enough to turn a girl’s head, there’s more. Kathy Hansen is donating flowers and an anonymous donor wrote a check for Jenny and her date, Dustin Levasseur, to go out to dinner at Vintage in Ketchum.

Last year, Proctor "thought it would be fun to help out a deserving girl." Affectionately dubbing it Paula’s Prom Girl, she hopes that in future years donors will contribute money to a scholarship fund as well.

"It could help with living expenses, buying books, or towards tuition," she said.

Anyone who wishes to further donate goods to this year’s winner should contact her at 726-3666.

Jenny, who is moving to Florida this summer, will take a year off while she establishes residency there, before attending the University of Southern Florida in Tampa as a pre-med. major. She also has aspirations to work as a model.

Written large on Jenny’s smiling face is her continued surprise to be in this position. Her hazel eyes wide with happiness, she declared "I’ve never had anything like this before, it’s such a treat. I’ve never been pampered."

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