Sometimes, SFist likes to dress up as a pretty, pretty princess. We're so cute afterall. When we're really feeling pathetic we put on our old prom dress, the one we wore when we lost our virginity like the cliche we are, and remember the good old days of drinking under the bleachers and cutting class to go to the mall. Why, yes, we did grow up in Mayberry, why do you ask?

Well, after we had our fun reliving the good old days this past weekend, we dropped our dress off at the drycleaners so it would be all ready for The Princess Project. What, you say, more princesses?! Yes, yes, there can be many princesses.

The Princess Project is a 100% volunteer effort to provide free prom dresses and accessories to San Francisco Bay Area girls who could not otherwise afford them. The Princess Project collects new and nearly new formal dresses and accessories from women, girls, and companies throughout the Bay Area, and distributes them free of charge to Bay Area girls at a fun-filled event in the spring.

The Princess Project will be having a fundraiser on February 24th at 6pm at Harry Denton's Starlight Room. Admission is $15. There's a cash bar, DJ and silent auction. And no, formal wear is not required.

Starting February 28th, through March 19th, you can drop off your dress and/or accessories (see their guidelines for acceptable donations) at Anthropologie stores throughout the Bay Area. On April 2nd and 9th, girls will come to shop for their dress. If you'd like to help them, you can volunteer to help at the dress giveaways - there will be more infomration coming on the website.

We cannot tell you how cool this is. You might be all contrarian and argue that "Oh, the prom is just a crass ritual of consumerism and social class hell." and, for many people, that might be true. But it's also a central part of the American high school experience for some and not being able to attend because you can't afford a dress really sucks. These are girls who just need a break and who need to feel like a princess for that one day.

And, if you're a dude - one of the ones in SF that doesn't have a dress somewhere in his closet - then don't think you're off the hook. Give cash. The money they collect goes to buy dresses in sizes that aren't donated often.