Palm Beach Post – Gardens Teen Headed to Instagram’s First ‘Kindness Prom’ in California
May 1, 2018 5:26 pm
NORTH PALM BEACH — Like many other 16-year-olds, Kayla Abramowitz is headed to the prom this weekend. But this prom is unlike any other.
Two Disney Channel stars — Madison Hu and Olivia Rodrigo from the “Bizaardvark” comedy series — took over Good Morning America’s Live Instagram account Monday morning and invited the William T. Dwyer High School sophomore to Instagram’s first Kindness Prom Saturday night in Venice, Calif.
Radio Disney Host and DJ Miss Lela Brown will play the music. There also will be a surprise guest performance.
The prom is for students and “teen influencers” from around the country. It will be a “totally immersive, Instagrammable experience that focuses on positivity, kindness, giving back and community,” according to Instagram. Instead of choosing a prom king and queen, each guest will get a kindness award.
Kayla has made national headlines and news clips for her work with Kayla Cares 4 Kids, the nonprofit she started to supply DVDs, video games, books and craft supplies to children’s hospitals. She started Kayla Cares 4 Kids when she was 11 years old. She has distributed more than 17,000 items in every state, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico.
“I’m really excited to meet all the other kids that are doing great, kind things,” Kayla said.
Kayla said her friend Joshua Williams recommended her for an invitation. Joshua started and runs the Joshua’s Heart Foundation, a youth-led nonprofit that gives out groceries, toiletries and other essentials to families in large-scale distributions once a month and smaller, weekly distributions.
Even though he lives in Miami, their first meeting will be at the prom in California, she said.
Instagram is a social media network in which users share photos or short videos they’ve taken, usually on a phone, with people who choose to follow them. Similar to Snapchat, the stories disappear within 24 hours.
Instagram is covering the cost of travel and accommodations for Kayla and a chaperone. Rent the Runway, a company that rents out designer dresses and accessories, is offering a free rental and accessories to wear to the prom.
Kayla picked out a “blackish-purple” ombré dress that fades to a light blue.
“It’s very floral,” she said. “I was able to get a lot of fun, cool stuff.”
By Sarah Peters