Eleven-year-old Desirea Sierra never made it past that fifth grade formal dress because she lost her life to domestic violence at the hands of her father in April 2000.  Today her mother, Taxie Lambert, has launched Project Formal through her 4EVR DEZ Foundation.

"All of this is formal wear that I want to gift to students who have household hardships, who have experienced trauma or are having challenges right now," Lambert said.

 

Emerging from 22 years of pain, Taxie has rallied her family to the cause. They have solicited businesses and the community for new and like-new after five and formal dresses.  This mother's hope is that every girl will have the opportunity to go to her prom.  "I want to see a student who can not financially attend these events because of household hardships -- single moms, grandparents raising their grandchildren," Lambert said. "I want them to have this experience."

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This story was originally published by WEAR-TV on December 12, 2022.  To see the complete story, including the video that appeared on air, visit Pensacola mother turns tragedy into effort to bring joy to others