Fairy Godmothers from FirstEnergy Help Bring Quinceañera Dreams to Life at DIVA Donations

For most of us, a fairy godmother is someone made with movie magic who only exists in childhood tales and our wildest imaginations. However, DIVA Donations, a Northeast Ohio nonprofit that provides affordable formalwear and accessories for special occasions, has fairy godmothers that make magic happen every day, helping young women dress for the night of their dreams.

On Sept. 25, members of FirstEnergy’s Women in Leadership employee business resource group (EBRG) volunteered to help create Cinderella moments for attendees of the 2024 Youngstown Rayen Early College Multicultural Quinceañera Ball, which DIVA Donations has supported for the last eight years.  

“Our fairy godmothers from FirstEnergy are the first group of volunteers we’ve had from a local company,” says Bodendorfer. “DIVA usually operates with such a small team that we are incredibly grateful to everyone who volunteers their time to help the girls in our community shine.”

Originating in Mexico, the quinceañera is a celebration of a girl’s 15th birthday. A traditional quinceañera dress is often elaborate and uniquely designed, expressing the young woman’s personality while serving as a powerful reminder of heritage, tradition and the important roles that family and society play through adulthood. 

“These dresses have to make a statement – we’re talking crinolines, gloves, tiaras, the works” says Kristin Bodendorfer, founder of DIVA Donations. “The Quinceañera Ball is a cultural education event and not everyone who attends is Hispanic, so we work with girls of every culture to meet their needs.” 

Since 2011, the pioneering formal clothing closet has been dedicated to alleviating financial strain on families and empowering students by helping them look their best. DIVA Donations is open year-round to all students from junior high through college for any special occasion, dance or formal event. 

Thanks to the organization’s Kind Deed Currency Program, all services are free. Youth can borrow a dress and all accompanying accessories in exchange for contributing two or more hours to a 501c3 charity. The nonprofit serves 12 counties across three states and has helped over 6500 young women thanks to generous donations and a dedicated team of volunteers or “fairy godmothers.”  

But being a fairy godmother isn’t just about glitz, glamour and finding the perfect glass slipper.

“We help organize and clean during the times they don’t have girls in for appointments,” says Emily Miller, Community Outreach Co-chair for Women in Leadership’s Ohio Chapter. “This helps free up the DIVA team to take care of other needs in the business such as crafting décor by hand to sell at fundraisers to offset costs.” 

In addition to volunteering at the Boardman storefront, the Women in Leadership Ohio Chapter has also organized a Spring/Prom donation drive to benefit DIVA Donations. Anyone interested in making a donation or becoming a fairy godmother should visit the DIVA Donations’ website.