By Rubin E. Grant
Late Sunday afternoon, Caroline Fields will have another magic moment.
Fields, an account executive for the Birmingham Legion FC, will make an on-field presentation for a Magic Moments recipient during intermission of the Legion FC’s soccer game against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. The game kicks off Sunday at 4:30 p.m. at BBVA Field on the UAB campus.
Fields knows what it is like to receive a magic moment. She was a Magic Moments recipient several years ago when she was a student at Briarwood Christian School.
“I got to go to the Teen Choice Awards in California,” Fields said. “It’s still one of my favorite events. I got to see all my favorite celebrities, actresses and singers. Justin Bieber was there. I got to see him in person. It was so, so cool.”
Magic Moments grants non-medical moments to children ages 4 to 18 with chronic life-threatening illnesses in Alabama. The children continue a relationship with Beyond the Moment. It is the only wish-granting organization dedicated solely to the children of Alabama.
Fields declined to disclose her illness, saying it’s personal, but she said it means the world to her to take part in someone else’s magic moment.
“I am very excited,” she said. “It’s so special. I feel like I’ve come full circle. This is a moment for me to give back some of what they gave me.”
The presentation comes on the eve of a special day for Magic Moments. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has declared Oct. 21 as Magic Moments Day across the state to help celebrate the organization’s 35th anniversary.
“This is the first time for us to have a Magic Moments Day,” said Sandy Naramore, Magic Moments executive director. “I requested it because it was our 35th anniversary.
“It’s a big deal because, even though we grant wishes statewide, so many people haven’t heard about us or our mission. This will give them a chance to find out who we are and what we do.”
Fields is overjoyed that Monday will be Magic Moments Day.
“I think it’s incredible,” she said. “There are a lot of people who aren’t aware of Magic Moments and this will help with the awareness.”
Several cities have proclaimed Oct. 21 as Magic Moments Day, including Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, Hoover, Homewood and Birmingham as well as Montevallo, Alabaster, Helena, and Pelham.
A plethora of businesses and organizations throughout the state are participating in Magic Moments Day by donating a portion of their proceeds to the group. For a list of the businesses and organizations visit magicmoments.org/magicmomentsday/
This will not be the first time Fields has given back to Magic Moments. When she was a student at the University of Alabama, she led a Magic Moments fundraising campaign for her sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta.
“I recognize that this is something great that helps many people,” Fields said. “It’s awesome that we were able to raise enough money to give a child a wish.”
Since 1984, Magic Moments has brought joy to the lives of more than 4,800 children in 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 – it provides on-going events to enhance the relationships between its staff and families as well as relationships with other families.
When a Child Speaks
Magic Moments was founded in 1984 by two mothers, Shelley Clark and Buffie Marks, who both live in Mountain Brook.
Clark’s inspiration came from her late daughter, Angela Weathers, who died in 2012. While Weathers was a patient in 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, piqued Weathers’ interest.
According to Naramore, after Weathers saw the fireman visit the little boy, she told her mom, “We can do this for children.”
Marks, who volunteered in play therapy at Children’s, had a similar idea after having seen a national broadcast about a wish-granting organization. Clark and Marks collaborated and with the blessings of hospital administration and a $500 grant from the Junior League of Birmingham, Magic Moments was born.
“Angela played an instrumental role,” Naramore said. “It’s amazing that a child is behind so much of this.”
In 1999, the Magic Moments program was extended to include Family Camp held each Memorial Day weekend at Children’s Harbor on Lake Martin, which accommodates the medical needs of the children it serves.
In 2013, the Family Camp concept was expanded further to provide year-round, ongoing support for families. These opportunities became known as “Beyond the Moments” and include activities such as family nights at regional ballparks, Valentine’s Day ice skating parties, and breakfast with Santa. Beyond the Moment opportunities are offered to families at no expense.
