On Saturday, August, 1, 2015 I had the distinct pleasure of visiting the Give Kids the World Village for their third annual Blogger & Media Bash. For those of you who don’t know what Give Kids the World Village is allow me to school you for a quick moment:
Give Kids The World Village is a 74-acre, nonprofit “storybook” resort located near Central Florida’s most beloved attractions. Here, children and their families are treated to week long, cost-free fantasy vacations, complete with accommodations in whimsical villas, transportation, donated attraction tickets, meals, and much more. At the Village, these children learn that dreams really do come true as they and their families are immersed in joy, love, and hope for a few unforgettably happy days. Since 1986, Give Kids The World has hosted more than 120,000 families from all 50 states and more than 70 countries.
Their mission:
Give Kids The World is a non-profit organization that exists only to fulfill the wishes of all children with life-threatening illnesses and their families from around the world to experience a memorable, joyful, cost-free visit to the Central Florida attractions, and to enjoy the magic of Give Kids The World Village for as long as there is a need.
Over 138,000 children have had their dream come true at Give Kids The World. No child in need has ever been turned away – and no child ever will. Give Kids The World is a place where families find joy, laughter, serenity, and a lifetime of memories. Through the tireless support of our volunteers, employees and generous partners, we dedicate each and every day to these special families.
So why did I visit?
I chose to accept the invitation to visit this whimsical fantasy land because I wanted to see it for myself and then spread awareness about it’s existence. I visited on a rainy day, but still had a wonderful meal with my husband and then toured the facility learning about all they offer for families. The number one thing that resonated with me is that there were no signs of doctors or nurses anywhere in sight. Someone actually inquired about this during our dinner and I just loved GKTW President Pam Landwirth’s response. She said that the reason there are no doctors or nurses present is this is one week where the goal is to make the families forget they are dealing with medical woes. Yes, they are partnered with local hospitals who know the quickest route to the facility if necessary, but GKTW didn’t want a single reminder of hospitals, doctors, sickness or anything related to sickness to be found at this place that was built to help them be positive if only for a short time.
Another thing that absolutely fascinated me is that GKTW is sponsored by some of the biggest names in the corporate world and yet by walking around you would never know who they are. Our dinner alone was sponsored by Boston Market, Papa Johns and Perkins and yet there are no signs anywhere stating that. Check out even more of the amazing sponsors that donate to this worthy cause here.
You can check out some of the fun photos I took on my facebook page and I invite you to visit the Give Kids the World Village website to learn more about it and to see how you can help Give Kids the World!
