Diamond of the week: Burkelle Reighard!

This week, we are highlighting one of our sisters for her courageous and tremendous impact on our University and community. Burkelle Reighard from PC '21 is the co-founder of our University's first Magical Moments Foundation Chapter. This chapter is incredibly impactful to so many lives and we are so proud of Burkelle. We asked her to share a few words of what this organization does, its impacts, and successes.

"Last year I had the opportunity, alongside my fellow ADPi sister Brynn Hannon and panhel sister Ellie McQuestion, to co-found the University of South Carolina’s first Magical Moments Foundation Chapter. Magical Moments Foundation is a wish-granting organization that helps spread awareness and raise money for children with craniofacial anomalies. As a chapter, our goal is to make a difference in the lives of these children and help them on their journey to accepting themselves and disproving the stigma associated with their disabilities. Facial diversity can be a struggle within grade school children, as they are not aware of the challenges these kids face on a daily basis. Magical Moments gives them an opportunity to feel special and loved by those around them and grants a wish to make their wildest dreams come true.

In our first year we were able to raise over $2,000 in fundraising efforts through various tabling events, bingo games, and percent nights. One of our most memorable experiences thus far was our percent night at Chipotle where many magical moments chapter members along with other Gamecock students came out and showed their support. As of now we have over 80 active members in our chapter and we are growing more and more every day. In the coming years, we plan to create bigger and better fundraising opportunities that the whole school can enjoy. 

One Magical Moments child, Jayvion, was just recently granted his biggest wish and it is an experience him and his family will remember forever. Jayvion was diagnosed with Apert syndrome when he was young and has faced many challenges physically and socially. His slogan “Different is better” has inspired many around him and has allowed for Jayvion to be a light to others dealing with their own struggles. This past year his dream of meeting the Golden State Warriors came true and his experience was nothing short of magical. He met players such as Stephen Curry and Draymond Green and even got to ride in his own personal limo! 

Stories like this are just a small part of what makes the Magical Moments Foundation so special. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to support a cause as amazing as this one and am looking forward to seeing how our chapter of the Magical Moments Foundation evolves in the years to come. If you would like to read more about us or would like to donate please visit our website: https://www.magicalmomentsfoundation.org/ and follow The University of South Carolina’s Magical Moments Instagram page @magicalmomentsusc for more information. 

Pi love and all of mine,

Burkelle Reighard, PC ‘21"