The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Children's Harbor partners with UAB Football
4/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UAB Football has launched a partnership with Children’s Harbor to give players and coaches an opportunity to volunteer with and promote the local charity dedicated to supporting seriously ill children and their families.
Located inside Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children, Children’s Harbor provides patients of Children’s of Alabama and their families a place to be themselves — to have fun and relax — while also receiving no-cost services that make life a bit easier for the whole family.
UAB Football has coordinated with Children’s Harbor on several activities, including Super Bowl, Valentine’s and March Madness parties, as well as Lego builds supported by the Riverchase Galleria Lego Store. Children’s Harbor CEO Myrle Grate says the interactions when players and coaches volunteer their time have a huge impact on all the children who utilize Children’s Harbor Family Center during their hospital stay.
“Inpatients, outpatients and their family members have all enjoyed being around this outstanding group of benevolent young men at these events,” Grate said. “Community support ensures that the seriously ill children and families we serve will always have a safe harbor during their medical crises. We are thankful for this new partnership with UAB Football and look forward to great things in the future.”
UAB Football head coach Bill Clark, who will speak at a Children’s Harbor reception celebrating the partnership Thursday, April 14, is excited about the impact the interactions at the Family Center have for the patients and families, and also on his team.
“Our players and coaches have a very special connection to Birmingham, and we have a strong desire to give back to our community that continues to do so much for us,” Clark said. “An uncommon sense of family defines our identity as a program, and in a short amount of time, Children’s Harbor has absolutely become part of the Blazer family.”
In the ongoing partnership, UAB Football will coordinate volunteer opportunities at Children’s Harbor, as well as opportunities for patients and families to gain special access to the program, its players and coaches.
“I intend for this relationship to grow with our program,” Clark said. “As we build our team and return to competition, there will be even more we can do to provide encouragement and a positive distraction to support the terrific work Children’s Harbor does.”
Children’s Harbor Information
Established in 1989, Children’s Harbor is a fully qualified 501(c)(3) charitable organization with the sole purpose of serving seriously ill children and their families. Children’s Harbor provides children with serious illnesses and their families a place to be themselves — to have fun and relax — while receiving no-cost services that make life a bit easier for the whole family. The Children’s Harbor Family Center at Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children offers patient and sibling activities as well as support through counseling care and educational resources. Children’s Harbor’s Lake Martin campus hosts camping services through partnering organizations, providing patients and families a place of rest and restoration.
