Something Magical is in the Air: Fairy Godmothers of Rochester is at Marketplace Mall through March

BY JODY LYNN GREER

It’s almost Spring, and many young adults are getting ready to celebrate the time of year they will remember for a lifetime. Prom is an essential rite of passage for many American youths, but for countless teens, this important transition to adulthood is out of reach due to poverty. Many low-incomefamiliestoday ndtheaccessibilityofincorporating an a ordable dress, shoes, and accessories into their everyday budget as likely as a real-life Cinderella attending the ball a er meeting her fairy Godmother.

Fortunately for them, “Fairy Godmothers of Rochester” has something to o er everyone, because they believe no one should miss out on the magical and once-in-a-lifetime feeling of attending Prom. For those in Rochester and Upstate NY, you don’t have to believe in fairy tales to understand that “fairy godmothers” really do exist.

Created in 2004 by Rene Spallina and Cynthia Jackson a er being inspired by an episode of Oprah, “Fairy Godmothers of Rochester” has formatively changed throughout the years. Volunteer Lynne Fiero explains, “It used to be a one-day prom fair at the Convention Center, but now that we have the space at MarketspaceMall,volunteerssignupfordi erentshi sthrough March. It’s all volunteers.” A er Spallina recently stepped down and Cynthia Jackson relocated to the West coast, leadership passed to partners Ami Salzman and Lynne Fiero to carry on the remarkable mission of Fairy Godmothers of Rochester.

Housed in the former “Limited” space at Marketplace Mall across from Spencer’s, young women eagerly wait in line every Wednesday a ernoon and Saturday throughout March. Upon arrival, girls check in and are assigned a friendly volunteer who will help them nd the dress of their dreams. e enthusiasm in the room is palpable as each volunteer carefully escorts each young woman throughout the challenging process of seeking the right look and accessories, with no shortage of diverse and appealing size-friendly options.

Fiero says, “At this point, close to 40% of our inventory is brand new. We do have some guidelines for our donations, and they do have to be fairly modern. We get a lot of donations of bridesmaids gowns, and they’re quite beautiful. We have a lot of young ladies that are looking for a simpler style. We only put on the racks beautiful dresses we think will appeal to today’s teenagers. We also range from size zero to thirty. It’s nice to have that range of shopping that they might not get in department stores.” Shades of every color line the perimeter of the store. No matter a young woman’s preferred style, she is likely to nd a dress to compliment her gure and her budget. e process from start to nish is heartwarming and rewarding for both volunteers and the young women that enter the store. Without Fairy Godmothers of Rochester, these young ladies likely would not attend prom. Once a dress is chosen, young women are also given the opportunity to choose an accessory of their liking. A variety of options are available from shawls to purses, bracelets, earrings, and more. Every step of the way, special care is taken to make sure these young women feel comfortable and at ease. Before leaving, each young lady is given a handbag of free goodies o ering an assortment of products provided by Continental Beauty School and other beauty suppliers. e mission of Fairy Godmothers of Rochester means so much more than being able to attend prom. is communitybased volunteer program encourages young women to feel con dent and secure with themselves. While these volunteers may not be fairy godmothers out of a beloved fable, their enthusiasmandcompassionknownoboundariesandisnothing short of “magical.” If you would like to learn more about Fairy Godmothers of Rochester, visit fairygodmothersrochester.org.

To Your Good Health

By Keith Roach, M.D.