KERI'S FAIRY GODMOTHER FOUNDATION: A small non-profit Foundation located in Leander, Texas; Founded in 2006 by Keri Byer.
Keri Byer
What is the Fairy Godmother Foundation all about?
The Fairy Godmother Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to identify girls in Austin and the surrounding areas who despite many hardships would like to attend their Prom, Homecoming or any other special event that requires a formal dress but may not have the financial resources to do so. We will ensure every young lady in need makes it to her special event! Whether it be her Prom, Wedding, Homecoming, Quinceanera, school play or Sweet 16.
What do you do all year?
We spend most of our year fund-raising, finding volunteers and collecting gowns, shoes and accessories to display in our Cinderella Palace for the biggest event of the year; which is our Prom Fair. We are very selective with the gowns we display. All must be clean, current styles and appropriate for young girls to wear; and when we're not getting ready for Prom were helping girls make it to those other special events throughout the year!
The doors to the Princess Palace are open by appointment all year round!
What inspired you to start the foundation?
A co-worker of mine came to work upset that her daughter, Sr in high school was going to miss her Prom because they couldn't afford a gown. I went on craigslist and freecycle and put a shout out to everyone that we needed a gown so this girl could make it to her Prom...I got an overwhelming response of people wanting to help this girl. I spent the next 2 weeks driving around Austin picking up all the donations....gowns, shoes, jewelry and accessories. I placed all these items in a spare room upstairs in my home...she came and was able to get a gown, shoes and even jewelry for her Prom...It was such an amazing feeling..well before ya knew it I had other girls calling and they were in need..I became known as the dress lady...the donations kept coming and the girls in need kept popping up...before we knew it we had outgrown the spare room and VIOLA the Princess Palace was born :) and here we are almost 2 1/2 yrs later :)
How has the foundation changed your life?
The Foundation has definitely changed my life in so many ways! It has made me aware that there is such a huge need for what I provide to these girls. Our palace doors being open year round really makes or breaks some of these formal events for the girls we help! There are so many girls out there in need and all I think about, all I dream about is spreading the word so that every girl out there knows about our organization. I have such a passion that drives me to pursue this more and more. I hope one day we can have Princess Palaces all over the US because girls need us and what we have to offer...just not for Prom but all year! I was never able to attend any formal events in my teen years...my mom was a single parent on a very strict budget so I never even asked to go to the dances...I knew we couldn't afford it and I didn't want my mom to have to tell me no...it would have broke her heart! This foundation has definitely opened my eyes to all of those out there in need, not just for formal wear but everything...we are all family and all need a lending hand now and then! We live in a great city...Austin is so giving!
Thanks A Bunch Keri for taking the time to answer questions and for letting me feature you & your wonderful foundation on my blog. Keri's Fairy Godmother foundation is a blessing to many. Keri strives to make a difference and is a real hero to many teenage girls.. If you have any gowns, shoes or bags collecting dust in your closet, definitely send them to the Palace.. You can find details by visiting Keri's website @ http://www.austinfairygodmother.org/
Me, Keri and some of her teenage volunteers.
9/07
Keri Byer
What is the Fairy Godmother Foundation all about?
The Fairy Godmother Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to identify girls in Austin and the surrounding areas who despite many hardships would like to attend their Prom, Homecoming or any other special event that requires a formal dress but may not have the financial resources to do so. We will ensure every young lady in need makes it to her special event! Whether it be her Prom, Wedding, Homecoming, Quinceanera, school play or Sweet 16.
What do you do all year?
We spend most of our year fund-raising, finding volunteers and collecting gowns, shoes and accessories to display in our Cinderella Palace for the biggest event of the year; which is our Prom Fair. We are very selective with the gowns we display. All must be clean, current styles and appropriate for young girls to wear; and when we're not getting ready for Prom were helping girls make it to those other special events throughout the year!
The doors to the Princess Palace are open by appointment all year round!
What inspired you to start the foundation?
A co-worker of mine came to work upset that her daughter, Sr in high school was going to miss her Prom because they couldn't afford a gown. I went on craigslist and freecycle and put a shout out to everyone that we needed a gown so this girl could make it to her Prom...I got an overwhelming response of people wanting to help this girl. I spent the next 2 weeks driving around Austin picking up all the donations....gowns, shoes, jewelry and accessories. I placed all these items in a spare room upstairs in my home...she came and was able to get a gown, shoes and even jewelry for her Prom...It was such an amazing feeling..well before ya knew it I had other girls calling and they were in need..I became known as the dress lady...the donations kept coming and the girls in need kept popping up...before we knew it we had outgrown the spare room and VIOLA the Princess Palace was born :) and here we are almost 2 1/2 yrs later :)
How has the foundation changed your life?
The Foundation has definitely changed my life in so many ways! It has made me aware that there is such a huge need for what I provide to these girls. Our palace doors being open year round really makes or breaks some of these formal events for the girls we help! There are so many girls out there in need and all I think about, all I dream about is spreading the word so that every girl out there knows about our organization. I have such a passion that drives me to pursue this more and more. I hope one day we can have Princess Palaces all over the US because girls need us and what we have to offer...just not for Prom but all year! I was never able to attend any formal events in my teen years...my mom was a single parent on a very strict budget so I never even asked to go to the dances...I knew we couldn't afford it and I didn't want my mom to have to tell me no...it would have broke her heart! This foundation has definitely opened my eyes to all of those out there in need, not just for formal wear but everything...we are all family and all need a lending hand now and then! We live in a great city...Austin is so giving!
Thanks A Bunch Keri for taking the time to answer questions and for letting me feature you & your wonderful foundation on my blog. Keri's Fairy Godmother foundation is a blessing to many. Keri strives to make a difference and is a real hero to many teenage girls.. If you have any gowns, shoes or bags collecting dust in your closet, definitely send them to the Palace.. You can find details by visiting Keri's website @ http://www.austinfairygodmother.org/
Me, Keri and some of her teenage volunteers.
9/07