Todays modern debutantes are active, accomplished young women who are passionate about giving back to their communities and building leadership skills that will position them for future success.
The Leadership Forum for Young Women provides experiences that inspire our debutantes through volunteerism and personal development to help prepare them for bright futures. This includes service to our primary beneficiary and other non-profits, networking events with guest speakers, and professional development training to help them build confidence as they enter college and the workplace.
Once presented, our debutantes join an alumni network of accomplished women and a lifelong connection to philanthropy and history in this city.
Past debutantes have gone on to become leaders in their communities and their professions, and have formed lifelong relationships here at home, across the country and around the world. Whether its providing internships, career advice or even help finding an apartment in a new city, our alumni can be counted on to support the next generation of women.
Cinderella Ball and the Cinderella Women’s Committee seek to encourage a lifetime of philanthropy and service to our community.
Throughout the debutante process, the CWC provides a number of educational events and opportunities for the young women to engage in personal development and networking. Often beneficiaries will offer internship opportunities to the girls following completion of their volunteer hours, and other job opportunities for new college graduates have come from connections made through Cinderella Ball. For example, volunteering at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh even led one former debutante to decide to pursue a career in medicine.
The network built by all involved with Cinderella Ball is significant and reaches far beyond the Pittsburgh city limits.
April 2022:
“This past year, a group of high school seniors from the Leadership Forum for Young Women and Cinderella Ball have spent over 300 hours volunteering at the Zoo. The debutantes have helped the Zoo with on-site activities and events such as holiday wreath-making, Breakfast with Santa, ZooBoo, Wild Illuminations, and the Asian Lantern Festival. In addition to helping staff childrens activities like craft-making inside the PPG Aquarium, the women were also able to help with the Zoo Ambassador program and have shown great interest in the conservation efforts of the Zoo. Proceeds from the 2022 Cinderella Ball will benefit The Pittsburgh Zoo, and we are excited to announce that the Cinderella Womens Committee has chosen The Zoo to be the beneficiary for another consecutive year. We look forward to welcoming the help of another group of ambitious young women. ”
– Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium Newsletter
September 2021:
“Thank you for joining Foster Love Project to help support youth in our community impacted by foster care. With your help this summer, we are working to support youth in crisis. Your generous donation of 62 backpacks and school supplies will provide dignity and love for youth in crisis situations.
Youth in foster care have unique challenges. You are ensuring no youth is delivered to a home with nothing, in many cases, but the clothes on their backs. This impacts their mental and physical development and can impact their futures, too. But thanks to you, youth will find joy, excitement, and pride in receiving a new backpack and school supplies as they return to school.”
-Amber Deemer, Manager, Development and Programming, Foster Love Project
September 2020:
“Many thanks to The Young Women’s Leadership Forum of the Cinderella Ball for donating backpacks, hygiene kits, snacks, and beverages for our residents and clients. We appreciate your kindness and generosity!”
– Bethlehem Haven Women’s Shelter