“A Moment of Magic” members pose at an event. Photo Credits – Emily Dina.
West Chester University’s A Moment of Magic’ continues to shine and bring Walt Disney characters, among others, to life. Their meetings occur on Wednesdays at 7:30 PM in Sykes room 210. Their first meeting will be Sept. 21.
Join this group and you will have a once in a lifetime experience to perform as a character outside of the actual parks.
“I have been with A Moment of Magic since it was founded in 2020. Over the past two years, I have had the pleasure of watching this club change and grow throughout all the challenges that have been brought on,” stated Emily Dina, the president of the club. “Being able to spread the magic that we do supports so many children that we visit, but also brightens my inner child light to create so many special memories. I look forward to my last two years with this organization and the magic we will continue to spread!”
A Moment of Magic is a national nonprofit organization that transforms college students into everyone’s favorite childhood princesses, superheroes, other characters and magic makers in efforts to spread some much-needed magic.
Their mission is to improve the quality of life of vulnerable children and inspire them to be brave, strong and fearless through fun and engaging social wellness activities. Some of their services include: visits to children in hospitals and childcare centers, large event appearances through Zoom screens, Facebook lives to do arts and crafts, sing-alongs, read-alouds and have conversations and so much more!
The West Chester University chapter was founded in Feb. 2020. Over the past two years they managed to serve over 500 children, complete over 500 volunteer hours both virtually and in-person and have been awarded the Program of the Year at WCU in 2021 and 2022.
Not to mention, they had the privilege of traveling to many different states to spread some magic! This past May, they attended Baltimore at the University of Maryland’s Childrens Hospital in the pediatrics unit and were also a part of the West Chester Christmas Tree Lighting last December. Plus, they got to go to the Baltimore Christmas Village Tree Lighting. Last September, they even traveled to Washington D.C. for Curefest. In retrospect, they provided many different visit opportunities that reach Pennsylvania, Delaware and New York.
“As an incoming freshman, I honestly didn’t know about A Moment of Magic until I heard it in conversation,” said Dani Margarite, one of the members. “Just the mention of it intrigued me, so I went to the interest meeting and was immediately welcomed and provided with all the information I needed to know what the organization was all about. Dedicating my time to A Moment of Magic during my first year at college has definitely changed my life for the better and become a staple in my college career.”
The club is also a national organization with an amazing National Board of Directors. They control the character database and who is casted as what character. If someone is interested in auditioning, they send the audition form to the casting committee. Once a decision is made, the character list will be given to the president who will then announce the new characters at their coronation.
Their training coordinator, Dani Margarite, will then begin training each new character to ensure they have all the resources they need to go on visits.
They even want to stress that you do not have to have prior experience performing or acting to be a character!
A list of the characters this semester:
- Emily Dina: Fairy Godmother
- Sierra Irving: Periwinkle
- Gelly Formica: Princess Malia
- Abby Stauffer: Giselle
- Cecilia Tabor: Jessie
- Dani Margarite: Belle
- Gina Galdo: Giulia
- Gracie Gehring: Snow White
- Hannah Schindler: Black Widow
- Julia Travaglini: Fancy Nancy
- Maura Corkery: Rosetta
- Reilly Cook: Cinderella
- Kayleigh Deisley: Periwinkle
- Jenna Citro: Bo Peep
- Isbelle Gunson: Violet Parr
- Gianna Margarite: Fawn
- Erin Guilfoyle: Wanda Maximoff
- Christie Faust: Ariel
- Bella Bedore: Vanellope Von Schweetz
Plus, there’s more in training!
This club is unique in the way that it offers its members many virtual opportunities. If performing in front of many kids in person seems scary, you can participate in their Facebook Lives or hotline calls each month and continue to come to meetings every Wednesday!
“One of my favorite memories was when we visited the University of Maryland Children’s Hospital last May,” expressed the president. “There was one child that was sitting at the nurse’s station and was immediately attached to our Mary Poppins. He was showing us all the cool tricks he could do with the umbrella that she carried and then proceeded to dance with our Belle. The joy he felt playing with our characters is exactly why we do what we do! We all strive to be brave like the kids, strong as a unit and fearless in ourselves.”
They also would love for their group to have more diversity and continue to grow in numbers! This club is very inclusive and offers a variety of characters and memberships.
Sean Wattman is a second-year Psychology major with a minor in Journalism. SW970700@wcupa.edu
It is such a pleasure seeing these college students giving their time for such a worthy cause. I am sure there are many children whose lives were lifted up and filled with joy just seeing you there. God Bless you all and keep up the good work.