Many young people dream of being Cinderella or Prince Charming one night in their lives. The high school prom is often that enchanting time, however, all the glitz and glamour that goes along with prom night can be expensive.

Sperry High School senior and CEO/founder of Prom Wishes Inc., Tiffany Grant knows that all dreamers do not get this opportunity, so she is helping make that dream come true teens across the state.

As a ninth grader with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, a speech impediment from birth and dreams of her own, Grant began what was then called “Picture Perfect Prom Night Project” as a 4-H project outfitting 19 girls in the Tulsa area.

Since that first year, the project has grown into a “profitable” non-profit organization, Prom Wishes Inc., to include 397 teens from 44 Oklahoma towns including four males. 

Tiffany Grant

While she helps others, her dreams are also being answered.

Grant graduates from Sperry High School and Tulsa Technology Center Lemley Campus this spring with $102,000 in college scholarships from companies such as Coca-Cola, Toyota, National Discover Card and numerous scholarships from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo., where she plans to enroll.

According to Grant’s mother, Cheri, the scholarship interview process and working to obtain corporate sponsorships for Prom Wishes has helped her daughter overcome her personal obstacles.

Grant always knew she wanted to take classes at TTC because of the practical knowledge gained from CareerTech courses. When time came to enroll in classes Grant thought about a nursing career, but fell short of meeting the program requirements. She decided to take a marketing/e-commerce class instead to grow her Prom Wishes business. 

“Champions are alumni of the system's high school or adult programs and student organizations who attribute much of their success to their CareerTech experience,” Berkenbile said.

Grant is also involved in TTC’s student organization DECA where she serves as reporter.

She used her Prom Wishes experience and marketing skills to help win state DECA awards for her written entrepreneurship business plan and fashion merchandising promotional plan

At TTC, Grant learned how to conduct needs assessment surveys. That is something students do not usually learn until their junior year of college or later. This type of survey helped Grant determine the need for a program like Prom Wishes designed to help students who could not afford to go to prom.

Surrounded by a cloud of sequins, chiffon and toile, Tiffany sorts dresses to grant prom wishes.

Tiffany received the Eastern Oklahoma Youth in Philanthropy Award for her Prom Wishes project.

Another beneficial skill Grant learned at Tulsa Tech is how to promote her business by grabbing the attention of those around her at career shows, she said.

As she makes plans to move on in her life, Grant is also securing a future for Prom Wishes.

“ I am currently training two seventh grade girls to take over Prom Wishes after I graduate,” Grant said. “The girls have been involved with Prom Wishes since the fifth grade.”

In college, she plans major in business administration and minor in marketing. 

After graduate school, Grant wants to be a volunteer coordinator and communications director for a business. She will help employees find volunteer positions for their company specifically in non-profit organizations such as Prom Wishes.