Aisha ‘Pinky’ Cole-Hayes, the founder of Slutty Vegan, offered to sponsor Benjamin E. Mays High School’s 2024 prom, according to Atlanta Public Schools.
Pinky Gives Back, the entrepreneur’s foundation, will provide funding for the April 27 program, which will assist with the prom experience for students including food, décor, a DJ, and souvenirs.
She told the district, “I was the prom queen at my high school, and I cherish the memories I created at my prom. It is important for me to support my community by helping people have experiences that will impact them for the rest of their lives, and I hope that my contribution does just that,” per 11Alive.
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When Cole-Hayes visited the school last Monday, she said to the pupils, “I’m paying for the entire prom so you don’t have to pay for nothing.” She then gave the school a check for more than $10,000.
Along with providing dresses and tuxedos for those in need, the organization is also covering the cost of makeup for a select few students. Apart from covering a part of every student’s prom ticket costs, the organization is also contributing hygiene kits and haircuts for male students.
The student body president, Tamar Echols, expressed relief and gratitude at her donation, saying, “Everybody can’t afford prom, so because everyone can’t afford prom, it’s kinda, a thing of, am I going to go or not. And, so when you get the news that a big black company is sponsoring your school, it just kinda gives you, a thing of relief, that now I can go.”
The mompreneur highlighted that since many of the students contributed to her success, helping them out is the least she can do.
Cole-Hayes declared that she wants the students, “to be able to walk away from this prom experience knowing how important it is to pay it forward when you elevate, when you realize their wildest dreams, they’ll know to come back to a Mays High School and help out. They’ll know to find a community that’s in need of support and support them.”
The Atlanta-based Pinky Cole Foundation is committed to empowering young people of color using various initiatives. The foundation has given financial support to encourage financial literacy, fight poverty, and support entrepreneurial endeavors since it was established in 2019.
Cole-Hayes also recently paid 30 students’ full tuition at Clark Atlanta University and helped out local businesses that were having trouble paying their rent.
