From left to right, Essence Jones, Samantha Walker and Meredith Kahl stand together. Jones and Walker assisted Kahl during the toy distribution for this year's Little Blazer Wishes.

In only its third year, the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Little Blazer Wishes program distributed presents to a record number of Blazer families this holiday season. One hundred sixteen families were sponsored by Little Blazer Wishes this year. 

"Every mom wants their child's Christmas to be amazing every year, especially the first," said Jessica Cirelli, a UAB student majoring in Human Resource Management. "UAB really gave me the chance to give that to my son. So, I'm very appreciative of it."

Cirelli had not heard of Little Blazer Wishes until she received an email from UAB Off-Campus Student and Family Engagement offering assistance for the holidays. She thought about it for a few days before discussing the program with her husband. Eventually, she decided to give it a shot.

"Just seeing the gifts, just the small things for me as a mom and everything they provided Oliver brought me to tears that day," Cirelli said.

Little Blazer Wishes offers anonymous gift sponsorship to Blazers who may otherwise struggle to fulfill their children's holiday wish lists. Parenting students, undergraduate and graduate, distance-learning, or in-person students can participate.

Since its launch in 2019, the Little Blazer Wishes program, coordinated through the UAB Student Affairs Office of Off-Campus Student and Family Engagement, has provided holiday assistance to over 240 Blazer families. 

Meredith Kahl, director of Off-Campus Student and Family Engagement, standing amongst a pile of donated presents

"Some of our students are taking on more than just being in the classroom," said Meredith Kahl, director of Off-Campus Student and Family Engagement. "We want to make sure that we are helping our students be successful."  

In addition to providing gifts to a record number of families, a record number of UAB departments, groups, and individuals supported the effort with either presents or monetary donations. 

"This year, it was genuinely and truly a university-wide program," said Kahl. "We had support from every academic school across campus, the hospital side, executive leadership across campus, individuals, alumni, and family members of UAB students. The support has been so vast and overwhelming it really shows just how big and caring the entire UAB family is towards each other."

Thirty-six departments and units and 56 individuals participated in the program. Additionally, $4,500 was donated to the Little Blazer Wishes Fund.

"I would like to thank UAB for giving your off-campus students as much love and attention as you do the traditional in-house students," said Cirelli. " It really made me feel as though I was a part of the huge family. I will forever be grateful to UAB for it."