A fairy godmother headquartered in Leander makes formal events possible for hundreds of young women every year. She outfits them in sparkling gowns and matching accessories through the Keri's Fairy Godmother Foundation.

In 2006, founder Keri Byer wanted to help a cash-strapped co-worker send her daughter to prom. She solicited dress donations on Craigslist and other community marketplace websites and soon had more than enough resources to make it a special night for the high school senior.

"I just posted 'Help us get this girl to prom. We need a dress,'" she said. "And people just kept giving and calling."

Within six months, Byer had 100 gowns. Generous hairstylists and cosmetologists offered their services free of charge for girls who could not otherwise afford prom updos and manicures. Eventually, Byer decided to create a place for girls of all incomes to find the perfect formal outfit.

"We cleaned out our guest house, gutted it and painted it pink," she said. "I bought some cheap throwdown racks and put the stuff out there—and boom—Fairy Godmother was born."

After a two-year stint in Round Rock, the nonprofit returned to Leander in March. The shop on Crystal Falls Parkway holds approximately 1,500 gently used and new gowns, 100 pairs of shoes and thousands of dollars in donated jewelry.

Byer has a $50 prom rental package for high school girls, which includes an entire outfit plus professional photos, a bag of makeup, gift certificates, coupons and more. But the nonprofit shop is not only for prom-goers. For $40, anyone can rent an outfit for a wedding, pageant, homecoming or other formal occasion.

"We do have women who come in who could probably afford to go and spend $200, but rather than doing that, they prefer the recycle-reuse program," she said. "They come in and pay the $40 rental, and that's extra funds to support our Diva Day Out."

Every month or two, Byer invites a group of middle school or high school girls to a dress-up and mentoring day, complete with a makeover, photo shoot, snacks and a visit from local female leaders such as Miss Central Texas and Miss Plus America Elite.

"They talk to the girls and tell them no matter what race, how much money they have, no matter what size they are, they're beautiful and important. Everybody just has a sense of belonging," she said. "It's totally free for the girls. Sometimes the schools do pay, depending on their budget."

Keri's Fairy Godmother Foundation runs entirely on donations and volunteers. While Byer, a bookkeeper, tracks rentals and dress dry cleanings, Keri's mother, Cheryl Traber, serves as director of operations and helps keep the shop tidy.

"A lot of the time, what I do is coordinate the volunteers, get them going and keep them going," Traber said. "I put dresses back up and keep the racks straight as I possibly can."

Traber organizes volunteers from groups such as the Chaparral Women's Club. Member Khristie Kenny volunteered in the shop and later donated a printer to the nonprofit after seeing a Facebook post from Byer.

"I met Keri at a meeting, and I went back to the Chaparral Women's Club and said we need to support this lady because it was just awesome what she was doing," Kenny said. "We just volunteered one day, helping the girls pick out dresses and then putting the dresses back. We've gotten so much feedback from the girls, and they want to do it again."

Byer said she has contacted thousands of companies for donations using social media, networking, phone calls and emails. She credits her landlord and neighbor, All Day and All Night Automotive, for helping the foundation prepare the Leander shop this spring.

"Those guys are the best thing that's ever happened to Fairy Godmother," she said. "They built our dressing rooms custom and paid for it. They asked what we wanted and built it."

Keri's Fairy Godmother Foundation accepts donations and sponsorships year-round. Dress donation drop-off is available at the shop in Leander as well as several area businesses.

Keri's Fairy Godmother Foundation, 10303 Crystal Falls Parkway, Leander, 507-6364, www.austinfairygodmother.org

• Wed. 3:30–7 p.m.
• Thu.–Fri. 3–7 p.m.,
• Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m.