FLORENCE, Ala. — Hibbett Elementary School received some magical visitors Thursday morning as it welcomed a familiar group of royals to surprise a student with special gifts. The Birthday Fairy stopped by with Cinderella, Elsa, and two Belles to shower student Za’Kayiah for her special day.
According to its website, The Birthday Fairy is a nonprofit organization that relies on volunteers and donations. The organization exists to create magical birthday moments for local kindergarten and K-6 special needs students in qualifying schools. On the week of a child’s birthday, a birthday cookie, party decorations, handmade personalized chair covers, and backpacks filled with books, crayons, and coloring books are delivered to the eligible schools, with teachers setting up the child’s custom-made surprise. Summer birthdays, like Za’Kayiah’s, are celebrated at different times of the school year.
Florence High School students Izzie Gren, Ella Cornelius, Sarah Gullett, and Mollie Smith channeled their inner Disney magic and appeared as the princesses Cinderella, Elsa, and Belle, respectively. “Me, Ella and Izzie have a lot of experience with dressing up as princesses for our own [dance] studio’s, Princess Camp,” Gullett said. “When Mollie came to us to help with The Birthday Fairy to be princesses, we immediately jumped on to the opportunity to do it to bring joy to a little girl that wanted it.”
Cornelius said that she and the girls have worked previously with The Birthday Fairy with their social club, Nenon. “The idea of it is just so sweet to us, and we’re so glad to be here, and we’ve had a lot of fun,” she said. “I haven’t dressed up like a princess since I was a kid, and it’s honestly a dream come true.”
“I’ve dressed up for The Birthday Fairy before for a child at Harlan, and she absolutely loved when I came,” Smith said when describing her previous experience. “I definitely knew that I wanted to do this again and give a little girl an experience that she will love.”
Gren said doing summer Princess Camp with Allegro Dance and Fitness helped her get into character for Thursday’s surprise. “We hang out with about 30 little girls, and we do princess activities with them, and just dance with them, and take pictures with us,” she said. “This was fun to be able to dress up as a princess, not just in the summertime with those girls, but to show someone else love too.”
The girls and representatives from The Birthday Fairy entered Za’Kayiah’s classroom and surprised her with a personalized chair cover, gifts, and even bouquets of roses for her teachers. It was a magical morning that Za’Kayiah and the princesses will hold in their hearts happily ever after.
For photos of Za’Kayiah’s fairy tale come to life, click here.
