Ashley Greene returns as spokesperson for DonateMyDress.org

TWILIGHT STAR ASHLEY GREENE RETURNS AS OFFICIAL CELEBRITY

SPOKESPERSON OF HEARST MAGAZINES’ DONATEMYDRESS.ORG

Join the “Twitterview” with Ashley Greene on Wednesday, March 23

New York, NY (March 22, 2011) ― Hearst Magazines Digital Media today announced that Twilight star Ashley Greene will return as the official celebrity spokesperson of DonateMyDress.org, the first national campaign designed to encourage girls around the country to donate their prom and special occasion dresses to girls in need.  Greene previously served as spokesperson in 2009 and 2010.  In celebration of her continuing role with the organization, Greene will conduct a live Twitterview with fans on March 23, 2011, from 4:30-4:45pm EST on @donatemydress.  Girls can tweet their questions to the star about prom–dressing for the big night, makeup and accessory tips, friend and date dilemmas, and Ashley Greene’s own prom experiences–as well as Greene’s current and film projects, and she will answer them in real time.  The full Twitterview will be posted on DonateMyDress.org the following week.
“In high school, I had to work several jobs to save enough to buy a prom dress,” said Greene.  “It was so worth it: I had a blast at prom!  Every girl should have the chance to have that experience!  So I was thrilled when DonateMyDress asked for my help.  The charity’s Web site helps you find more than 100 chapters all over the US where you can give pre-worn gowns to girls who can’t afford them.  I’ve donated dresses that I’ve worn on the red carpet—one of them was to a girl whose parents lost their jobs and her family was living in a friend’s garage.  It was such a humbling moment.  It made me realize how many people have been hit by the recession and how much we can help.”
For prom season 2011, Ashley Greene is donating a white Lela Rose dress to DonateMyDress.org that she wore on the red carpet at a recent charity event.   The dress will be given to a deserving girl this spring ensuring that her prom will be truly memorable and proving how easy it is to help other girls in need.
“We’re thrilled that Ashley will be joining us once again to help spread the word about DonateMyDress.org and the important services its volunteer-run chapters provide to deserving girls across the United States.  She is an influential yet relatable role model who is using her star status to send the message that it’s fashionable to care about others,” said Julie Hochheiser, senior web editor, Hearst Teen Network.  “We know that Ashley’s fans will be excited to ask her their prom questions during the March 23^rd Twitterview, and that she will truly make one lucky girl’s prom dreams come true by donating her stunning Lela Rose dress.”
Launched in 2007, DonateMyDress.org is now more critical than ever.  According to a 2011 Hearst Teen Prom survey on prom expenses, 64% of girls responding said they are worried that they will not have enough money for their dream prom.  60% of respondents said that that the perfect prom dress is the one thing they would never compromise on in order to save money.
DonateMyDress.org is the first national campaign designed to encourage girls around the country to donate their prom and special occasion dresses to girls who cannot afford to finance the costly experience of going to their prom, Sweet 16, Quinceañera or formal on their own.  DonateMyDress.org is part of the Hearst Teen Network, which includes Cosmogirl.com, Seventeen.com, MisQuinceMag.com, MyPromStyle.com, eCRUSH.com and eSPIN.com.  With 1.4 million monthly unique visitors, the Hearst Teen Network is one of the top 10 ranked teen networks online, according to ComScore Media Metrix.
The site features a directory of more than 100 local dress drive organizations across the U.S. enabling girls to easily find out where in their local markets they can donate a dress or receive one.  In addition, DonateMyDress.org features information on upcoming local events, a photo gallery of real girls donating and receiving dresses, as well as links to content on prom and quinceañera planning, hair and makeup tips, and other worthy causes.  A number of young celebrities have been involved with DonateMyDress.org, including Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Nikki Blonsky and Brittany Snow, all of whom have donated their own dresses to the cause.

ABOUT HEARST MAGAZINES DIGITAL MEDIA
Launched in March 2006, Hearst Magazines Digital Media, a unit of Hearst Magazines, is dedicated to creating and implementing the digital strategy for Hearst’s magazine brands and other sites which serve the company’s consumer audience.  The unit has launched, re-launched or acquired 24 websites and 10 mobile sites for brands such as Cosmopolitan, Popular Mechanics, Esquire, Good Housekeeping, Marie Claire and Seventeen, as well as digital-only sites such as Delish.com, a food site in partnership with MSN; TheDailyGreen.com; MisQuinceMag.com; RealBeauty.com; social shopping site Kaboodle.com; and consumer health site RealAge.com.  Hearst Magazines has published more than 50 applications and digital editions for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch, as well as the Droid platform.