It is
magical to see the world through the innocent imagination of a child whose
dreams are not limited by boundaries or logistics. As adults when a challenge is presented to us,
we seem to find reasons “WHY WE CAN’T” instead of “WHY CAN’T WE” especially when
it comes to something that has not been done before.
This is
where the vision for Magic Moments started in 1984, through the big, brown eyes
of Angela asking her mother, Shelley, “why can’t we do this?” Angela asked this question after watching a
television segment of a young boy receiving a visit from local fire fighters
who climbed the hook and ladder to enter his hospital window. They told him they would be waiting to take him
on a firetruck ride when he left the hospital.
This gave him something to look forward to and encouraged him to fight!
The firefighters had been told by neighbors how much the young boy wanted to
ride on a firetruck.
Shelley
Clark is a familiar name in the Birmingham area for her successful career in
real estate. However, many are unware of her involvement in establishing the
oldest wish-granting organization in Alabama. The can-do attitude of Shelley
and her friend, Buffie Marks became the driving force behind making this dream
a reality along with the support of Dr. Tommy Amason, L.E. Patton, and Henry
Ray.
Magic
Moments has been creating smiles for children suffering from chronic life
threatening medical conditions in Alabama for 40 years. It is the only
wish-granting organization that is devoted exclusively to the children living
in Alabama. From its humble beginnings of The Junior League of Birmingham
providing Clark with a $500 grant to get the program started as well as
volunteers that helped grant the magic moments to becoming a federally
recognized 501(c)3 statewide nonprofit, Clark has been there every step of the
way devoting time, guidance, and leadership.
In 1984,
when the idea of creating Magic Moments was suggested by Angela, she had no
idea the road that was ahead for her and her family would make her vision even
more miraculous. Hence the slogan “one magic
moment can last a lifetime” was born.
In 2012, Shelley’s daughter, Angela passed
away at the age of 35 after losing her own battle with a chronic illness.
Angela’s
kindness and compassion that God gifted to her is the legacy that lives on
through each magic moment presented to deserving children in Alabama.
Here’s to 40
more years of looking at life through the eyes of a child…
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