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San Antonio nonprofit seeks help to keep prom dreams alive

Project Prom Dress has provided hundreds of free prom dresses since 2024.

A San Antonio nonprofit that gives formalwear to area teens is in danger of folding after 12 years. Project Prom Dress says it is in urgent need of monetary donations to cover basic expenses before the back-to-school season begins.

Ashley and Rodney Johnson founded the nonprofit in 2014, first asking for dress donations through social media. The project grew over time, eventually expanding to tuxedos and suits, but the mission remained the same — to make sure every area teen is able to enjoy high school’s rites of passage with the dignity they deserve.

“This isn't just about dresses or tuxedos,” wrote the organization on Facebook. “It's about making sure every student has the opportunity to celebrate an important milestone with confidence, regardless of their financial circumstances.”

The headquarters, inside the Woodlawn Pointe Community Center at 702 Donaldson Ave., acts as a boutique. Teens — who largely hear about Project Prom Dress through word-of-mouth — can browse through racks stocked with sequins and satin, pick out an accessory or shoe, and even score toiletry care packages. All are provided free of charge to both the clients and their parents.

Although many of the items are received through donations, the nonprofit has a policy of turning no kid away. Project Prom Dress buys its own gowns in larger sizes and often has to restock on suits, which are less frequently donated. It even provides gift cards if it doesn’t have the right items for a magical military ball or homecoming dance.

The organization says it is no longer accepting clothing donations as it faces an uncertain future. The Johnsons have started a fundraising campaign to cover operational costs, but there’s still a way before it reaches its $5,000 goal. Project Prom Dress says even small donations will help it recover from the current financial crisis.

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San Antonio ranks as 3rd most affordable U.S. metro for raising a child

Courtesy of SmartAsset/iStock

Raising a child in Dallas will cost parents over $23,000 this year.

Raising a child is not an easy or inexpensive feat, but a new study has determined San Antonio parents have the lowest childrearing costs in Texas, and it's the third-most affordable U.S. metro for raising a family in 2026.

SmartAsset's latest report, "Cost of Raising a Child in Major U.S. Metros – 2026 Study," calculated year-over-year changes in the annual cost of raising a child (factoring in childcare, additional housing costs, food, transportation, medical costs and other necessities) in the 48 largest U.S. metro areas. MIT's Living Wage Calculator was used to compare the living costs of a household with two working adults and one child to that of a childless household with two working adults.

Childrearing costs in San Antonio-New Braunfels have grown 2.14 percent since last year, totaling $21,393 for a family of three in 2026. That's only $448 more than what it took to raise a child in 2025, and it's $379 higher than what it took in 2024.

This is how SmartAsset broke down the annual cost for raising a child in San Antonio:

Cost of childcare: $9,560
Cost of food: $1,589
Other expenses: $10,244

San Antonio-New Braunfels ranked 46th in SmartAsset's national list of cities with the highest childrearing costs in 2026, making it the No. 3 most affordable U.S. metro.

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont in California topped the list with the highest childrearing costs in the U.S., at $43,171. The cost for raising a child in this California metro soared nearly 11 percent since last year.

Memphis, Tennessee ranked dead last as the most affordable U.S. metro for raising a child in 2026. Families will spend less than $20,000 to raise a child in Memphis, only 3.24 percent more than what was needed in 2025.

Raising a child in other Texas metros
It may come as no surprise that Austin is the most expensive place to raise a child in Texas, and it appeared as the 31st most expensive U.S. metro for families. Parents will spend nearly $25,000 to raise a child in the state's capital city, which is $703 higher than it was a year ago.

Two other Texas metros join San Antonio among the top 10 most affordable U.S. metros for raising a family: Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands (No. 7) and Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington (No. 10). Childrearing costs in Houston add up to $22,605, and Dallas-Fort Worth parents will spend $23,340 to raise their children in 2026.

The top 10 most affordable U.S. metros for raising a child in 2026 are:

No. 1 – Memphis, Tennessee ($19,922)
No. 2 – Nashville, Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tennessee ($21,216)
No. 3 – San Antonio-New Braunfels ($21,393)
No. 4 – Birmingham, Alabama ($21,684)
No. 5 – Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, Virginia ($22,314)
No. 6 – Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Georgia ($22,470)
No. 7 – Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands ($22,605)
No. 8 – Richmond, Virginia ($22,658)
No. 9 – Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky ($23,270)
No. 10 – Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington ($23,340)

family smartasset reports livability san antonio new braunfels