Magical Moments Foundation at UCLA

Magical Moments Foundation is a wish-granting organization for children with craniofacial disorders. We work to make a difference in these children’s lives, spread awareness of the lifelong harm caused by appearance-related stigma, and promote acceptance of facial diversity. Children with facial differences often endure the pain of teasing, bullying, and isolation— pain that can leave emotional scars that last a lifetime. Children that face the world with a difference also endure the challenge of a more silent, but just as damaging, form of stigma: that of unconscious bias. And so, many children with differences grow up in a world that tells them that their dreams must be smaller than those of their peers. Magical Moments is working to change all of that. We create magical experiences that restore hope and provide comfort, inspiration, and encouragement to children with facial differences that are the result of genetic disorders, congenital anomalies, cancer treatment, severe trauma and burns. We help children understand that they are not at all limited by their appearance, but only by the size of their dreams! Through the magical moments that we create, we not only make a difference in children’s lives, but we also promote awareness of the lifelong harm caused by appearance-related stigma and create more widespread acceptance of facial diversity within our communities. As an organization, we grant wishes that teach children with facial differences to believe in themselves while teaching the world to see and celebrate the beauty in every child!

https://www.magicalmomentsfoundation.org
magicalmoments.ucla@gmail.com

Signatories: Laura Wise, Harper Dougherty, and Melina Reyes

Advisor: Maria Anna Salazar Capinpin