About
Mission Statement
It is our mission to grant non-medical moments to children ages 4-18 with chronic life-threatening illnesses in the state of Alabama as well as continue a relationship Beyond the Moment.
History
Magic Moments was founded in 1984 with the sole purpose of providing happiness to children throughout the state of Alabama who are diagnosed with chronic life-threatening illnesses. 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.
Shelley shared her idea with her daughter’s pediatrician, who put her in touch with L.E. Patton, play therapist at Children’s Hospital. Coincidentally, at about 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. L.E. suggested Shelley and Buffie collaborate. Soon, 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. Not only does Magic Moments provide children with non-medical opportunities such as a family trip to Disney World, meeting a celebrity of choice, or going on a shopping spree, we provide on-going events to enhance the relationships between our staff and families as well as relationships with other families.
In 1999 we extended our 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 we serve. 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 our families and accommodates approximately 70 children and their family members.
In 2013 the Family Camp concept was expanded further and we began providing year-round, ongoing support for our families. These opportunities, known as “Beyond the Moments,” include activities such as family nights at regional ballpark, Valentine’s Day ice skating parties, and breakfast with Santa. Beyond the Moment opportunities are offered to families at no expense.
Magic Moments employees four full-time staff members. We operate under a Board of Directors and are supported by an Advisory Council, a River Region Council in Montgomery, and Junior Boards in Birmingham and Montgomery.
We pride ourselves in being the only wish-granting organization dedicated solely to the children of Alabama.
Our Staff
Board of Directors
Adam Peck
Chair
Community Volunteer
Bubba Armstrong, MD
Retired Orthopedic Surgeon
Shelley Clark
Ray & Poynor
Jane Huston Crommelin
Ray & Poynor
Sean Fredella
Medical Properties Trust
Betsy French
Ray & Poynor
Theresa Friedman
Rushton Stakely
Heather Hargis
Children’s of Alabama
Jim Heilbron
Alabama Power Company
Lauren Goedecke
Community Volunteer
Layne Held
ServisFirst Bank
Rob Howland
Capstone Companies
Hud Hudson
Williams-Hudson, Inc.
Buffie Marks
(Member Emeritus)
Community Volunteer
Kelly Morrison
Community Volunteer
Agatha Pihakis
Jim ‘n Nick’s
David K. Smith
Community Vounteer
Garland (Gigi) Youngblood
Children’s of Alabama
Advisory Council
Lynne Cohen
Community Volunteer
Joe Covington, Jr.
Covington Flooring
J. Timothy Downard, CPA
Haynes Downard, LLP
Chris Eagan
Starnes & Atchison
Larry Fine, CPA
Community Volunteer
Pat Forman
Community Volunteer
Bill Goodrich
Richgood Corporation
Heidi Hallman
Community Volunteer
Tom Hinton
Hinton Properties
Bill Jones
O’Neal Steel, Inc.
Pat Kilpatrick
Community Volunteer
Daniel Markstein, IV
Markstein Consulting
Lila McGahey
Community Volunteer
Ed Meyerson
Baker, Donelson, Bearman,
Caldwell, & Berkowitz
Billy Morace
CMH Architects
Bobby Naftel, MD
Baptist Montclair
George Nolen
Mass Mutual
Kay Miles Pace
Community Volunteer
Will Pearson
mental_floss
Josh Petty
BB&T
Conrad Rafield
Rafield Investment Company
Henry Ray
Ray & Poynor
Jon Register
Stifel
Tom Shufflebarger
Children’s of Alabama
Courtney Stephens
Community Volunteer
Bobby Thuston
Southwood Machinery
Pete Van Pelt
Children’s Health System
Evie Vare
Community Volunteer
Junior Board
Keely Kennedy
Chair
eMeals
Aryn Abston
Ross Bridge Resort & Spa
Brailyn Barineau
AVX, Inc.
Katie Bass
Hometown Lenders, Inc.
Christi Cowan
Dawson Family of Faith
Allie Cowling
Brookwood Medical Center
Rebecca Crowther
Ray & Poynor
Caroline Fields
Bruno Event Team
Jacob Forehand
Variety Wholesalers
Emily Gardner
ServisFirst Bank
Taylor Guthans
Milo’s Hamburgers
Ben Harrison
ServisFirst Bank
Katie Harrison
Edgewood Elementary
Charlie Hearn
Lightfoot, Franklin, and White
Cal Horton
Regions Bank
Camille Jernigan
RxBenefits
Bradford Kidd
Harbert Realty Services
Jessica Merrill
Regions Bank
James Mounier
Charles Schwab
Julianna Neal
Workforce Management Analyst
Steve Noble
Charles Schwab
Brooke Ratliff
Community Volunteer
Grace Register
Brasfield & Gorrie
Matt Rowan
Graham & Company
Christine Scott
Oakworth Capital Bank
Drew Smalley
Royal Cup
Christopher Smith
Synovus
Lauren Smith
Shelby County Schools
Madeleine Snidow
Children’s of Alabama
Lee Tonsmeire
Bradley Arant Boult & Cummings, LLC
Patrick Weatherly
ServisFirst Bank
Annie Wyatt
Licensed Master Social Worker
River Region Council
Britt Barley
Chair
Synovus
Ross Agee
East Alabama Medical Center
Avery Ainsworth
Harmon Dennis Bradshaw
Davy Autrey, Selma
International Paper
Bubba Armstrong, MD
Retired Orthopedic Surgeon
Andy Britton
Coco Cola Bottling Company
Melissa Bowman
Mix103
Carl Calderone
BBRL
Graham Esdale, Esq.
Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis, & Miles, P.C.
Nim Frazer
Industrial Partners
David Gadilhe
Little Donkey
Scott Parker
City of Opelika
Jenny Thiessen
Community Volunteer
Stacy Tinsley, Auburn
Community Volunteer
Chris Waller
Ball, Ball, Mathews, & Novak P.A.
Kelly Whitaker
Board of Medical Scholarship Awards
Christian Ware
ServisFirst Bank
River Region Junior Board
Megan Bronson (Chair)
Bronson Communications
Rebecca Hails
Children’s of Alabama
Jamie Kidd
Webb & Eley, P.C.
Drew Nelson
Alabama Medicaid Agency
Katie Richard
The Retirement Systems of Alabama
Bailey Waller
Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention
Griffith Waller
City of Montgomery
Ada Katherine van Whye
Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education
