Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) will host the Magic Moments Easter Egg Roll at the Alabama Governor’s Mansion on Saturday.
Magic Moments was founded with a mission of providing happiness to children throughout the state of Alabama who are diagnosed with chronic life-threatening illnesses. This is the governor’s third annual Magic Moments Easter Egg Roll.
Joining the governor will be Magic Moments Executive Director Sandy Naramore, Magic Moments kids and their families. Service Dogs of Alabama will also be in attendance for the event.
A white Labrador puppy in training has officially been named “Hal Taylor” after Gov. Ivey’s Secretary of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Hal Taylor.
The event will begin at approximately 10:00 a.m.
Magic Moments is a Birmingham-based charity founded in 1984 with the sole purpose of providing events like this to children throughout the state of Alabama. As Birmingham mother Shelley Clark was spending time in and out of Children’s Hospital (now Children’s of Alabama), she saw a television program about a chronically ill boy who wanted to ride on a fire truck. The story of his community’s endeavor to fulfill his request, right down to the firemen entering his hospital room window via a hook and ladder truck, inspired her to offer hope and joy to local children with life-threatening illnesses by turning their dreams into realities.
Clark shared her idea with her daughter’s pediatrician, who put her in touch with L.E. Patton, a play therapist at Children’s Hospital. At the same time, fellow Birmingham mother Buffie Marks, who volunteered in play therapy at Children’s, had a similar idea after having seen a national broadcast about a wish-granting organization.
Patton suggested that the two women collaborate. With the blessings of hospital administration and a $500 grant from the Junior League of Birmingham, Magic Moments was born.
To date, Magic Moments has provided close to 5,000 magic moments for children in all 67 counties of Alabama. Magic Moments provides children with non-medical opportunities such as a family trip to Disney World, meeting a celebrity of choice or going on a shopping spree.
Magic Moments offers ongoing events to enhance the relationships between their staff and families as well as relationships with other families. In 1999, the group extended its programs to include Family Camp held each Memorial Day weekend at Children’s Harbor on Lake Martin, which accommodates the medical needs of the children. Family Camp provides time for families to relax and spend time together for three days in a stress-free environment, as well as rekindle relationships with other families and make new friendships. Camp is offered free of charge to families and accommodates approximately 70 children and their family members.
In 2013, the Family Camp concept was expanded further, and Magic Moments began providing year-round, ongoing support for the member families. These opportunities, known as “Beyond the Moments,” include activities such as family nights at regional ballparks, Valentine’s Day ice skating parties, and breakfast with Santa. Beyond the Moments opportunities are offered to families at no expense.
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