Social Entrepreneur Spotlight

Patricia Fragen (with treasurer Sheryl Diller)
President/Founder, Normal Moments Inc

The loss of a child brings what is undoubtedly the greatest grief that a mother will experience in her lifetime. It takes a special kind of person to channel that grief and give birth to a new project, for the benefit of others. One such person is Patricia Fragen.

Patricia is the founder of Normal Moments, Inc., a volunteer organization which offers supportive services for parents with critically ill and/or medically fragile children. At what can be a very isolating and stressful time for parents, Normal Moments volunteers assist families by providing services such as housekeeping, lawn care, snow removal, in-home massages, professionally-prepared meals, and emotional support. For families already overwhelmed with medical bills and the strain of 24 hour care, the free service is all the more appreciated. When volunteer support is not available, Normal Moments still delivers by supplying families with professional service providers.

Fragen created Normal Moments out of her own experience as the caregiver of her terminally ill child. Considering herself fortunate to have had the help of a friend during the illness and loss of her daughter, she decided that everyone should have the same kind of support that she had and was determined to find a way to provide it. Upon the death of her daughter, she asked that in lieu of flowers, that donations be made towards her fledgling organization. At the moment, Fragen, whose background is business consulting, is dependent on the generosity of individual donors for funding, although she hopes to obtain grant money in the near future so that she can expand services beyond the greater Chicago area.

As the response to Normal Moments has been so positive for families and volunteers alike, Fragen hopes to see Normal Moments grow. As with any such organization, funding is a constant concern. Donations are accepted through the website Normal Moments Inc. The organization is also seeking volunteers to head chapters in other cities and to provide services in the greater Chicago area. Potential local volunteers can complete a volunteer form on the group’s website.

Those interested in helping with the organization’s national expansion can contact Fragen directly via her email address tricia@normalmoments.org.