Give Kids The World
Encyclopedia
Give Kids The World Village is a nonprofit resort in Kissimmee, Florida
for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Children between the ages of 3 and 18 who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness by a licensed doctor are eligible for a GKTW Wish. One of over 250 wish-granting organizations worldwide coordinates transportation to Central Florida, while Give Kids The World provides accommodations at its resort, meals for a week-long vacation, and donated admission tickets to local attractions including Walt Disney World Resort
, SeaWorld
, and Universal Orlando Resort
.
Tickets are also available for other attractions if requested. Busch Gardens in Tampa is one of the many places that can be requested. The location of the "Give Kids the World Village" is relatively close to most of the popular attractions. This is setup in a way so the families do not have to travel far. The child with a life-threatening illness is given a special badge with his or her name on it that grants access to shorter lines or the disability entrance to many of the parks.
Give Kids the World was founded by Henri Landwirth
, a Belgian Holocaust survivor who spent 5 years in Auschwitz and Matthausen concentration camps. Landwirth immigrated to the United States, where he studied hotel management. While operating a hotel in the Orlando area, he became passionate about helping sick children fulfill their dream of a family vacation. The resort's focus is providing accommodations and access to donated theme park tickets. Access provided through partner "wish granting" organizations such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation
.
The organization's executive advisory board includes author Ken Blanchard
, astronaut Scott Carpenter
, former senator John Glenn
, anthropologist Jane Goodall
, actor John Stamos
, and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
president Al Weiss along with representatives from Universal Orlando and Seaworld
. The village is operated by a small professional staff augemented by thousands of volunteers each year. Roughly 1200 volunteer shifts are completed each week.
The Village has a whimsical theme. It features 141 family villa accommodations, the Gingerbread House Restaurant, the Castle of Miracles and it's Enchanted Carousel, the Ice Cream Palace, Julie's Safari Theatre, Matthew's Boundless Playground, and other attractions and facilities for its guests. Every year, the Village welcomes more than 7,000 families; in 2010, it welcomed its 107,000th family from across the United States and more than 70 other countries.
The organization partners with corporations for volunteers, donations and in the case of Boston Market
and Perkins Restaurant and Bakery
, restaurants supplied with both food and volunteers inside the resort. Families are also provided with a complimentary rental car courtesy of Avis Rent a Car during their stay which they pickup at the VIP counter at the Orlando airport.
Kissimmee, Florida
Kissimmee is a city in Osceola County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 59,682. It is the county seat of Osceola County...
for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Children between the ages of 3 and 18 who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness by a licensed doctor are eligible for a GKTW Wish. One of over 250 wish-granting organizations worldwide coordinates transportation to Central Florida, while Give Kids The World provides accommodations at its resort, meals for a week-long vacation, and donated admission tickets to local attractions including Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort , is the world's most-visited entertaimental resort. Located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida ; approximately southwest of Orlando, Florida, United States, the resort covers an area of and includes four theme parks, two water parks, 23 on-site themed resort hotels Walt...
, SeaWorld
SeaWorld
SeaWorld is a United States chain of marine mammal parks, oceanariums, and animal theme parks owned by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. The parks feature captive orca, sea lion, and dolphin shows and zoological displays featuring various other marine animals. There are operations in Orlando,...
, and Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Orlando Resort is a theme park resort in Orlando, Florida. It is wholly owned by NBCUniversal and its affiliates. The resort consists of two theme parks , Universal CityWalk , and three Loews Hotels...
.
Tickets are also available for other attractions if requested. Busch Gardens in Tampa is one of the many places that can be requested. The location of the "Give Kids the World Village" is relatively close to most of the popular attractions. This is setup in a way so the families do not have to travel far. The child with a life-threatening illness is given a special badge with his or her name on it that grants access to shorter lines or the disability entrance to many of the parks.
Give Kids the World was founded by Henri Landwirth
Henri Landwirth
Henri Landwirth is an hotelier, philanthropist, and founder of Give Kids The World and Dignity U Wear. He was originally from Belgium and is a Holocaust survivor. After World War II, he fled to the United States after a stint in the Army; Landwirth took a course in hotel management...
, a Belgian Holocaust survivor who spent 5 years in Auschwitz and Matthausen concentration camps. Landwirth immigrated to the United States, where he studied hotel management. While operating a hotel in the Orlando area, he became passionate about helping sick children fulfill their dream of a family vacation. The resort's focus is providing accommodations and access to donated theme park tickets. Access provided through partner "wish granting" organizations such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation
Make-A-Wish Foundation
The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a 501 non-profit organization founded in the United States that grants wishes to children who have life-threatening medical conditions. The charity now operates in forty-seven countries around the world through thirty-six affiliate offices.The president & CEO of this...
.
The organization's executive advisory board includes author Ken Blanchard
Ken Blanchard
Kenneth Hartley Blanchard is an American author and management expert. His book The One Minute Manager has sold over 13 million copies and has been translated into 37 languages...
, astronaut Scott Carpenter
Scott Carpenter
Malcolm Scott Carpenter is an American engineer, former test pilot, astronaut, and aquanaut. He is best known as one of the original seven astronauts selected for NASA's Project Mercury in April 1959....
, former senator John Glenn
John Glenn
John Herschel Glenn, Jr. is a former United States Marine Corps pilot, astronaut, and United States senator who was the first American to orbit the Earth and the third American in space. Glenn was a Marine Corps fighter pilot before joining NASA's Mercury program as a member of NASA's original...
, anthropologist Jane Goodall
Jane Goodall
Dame Jane Morris Goodall, DBE , is a British primatologist, ethologist, anthropologist, and UN Messenger of Peace. Considered to be the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees, Goodall is best known for her 45-year study of social and family interactions of wild chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National...
, actor John Stamos
John Stamos
John Phillip Stamos is an American actor, singer and musician best known for his work in television, especially in his starring role as Jesse Katsopolis on the ABC sitcom Full House. Since the cancellation of that show in 1995, Stamos has appeared in numerous television films and series. From 2006...
, and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is the segment of The Walt Disney Company that conceives, builds, and manages the company's theme parks and holiday resorts, as well as a variety of additional family-oriented leisure enterprises...
president Al Weiss along with representatives from Universal Orlando and Seaworld
SeaWorld
SeaWorld is a United States chain of marine mammal parks, oceanariums, and animal theme parks owned by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. The parks feature captive orca, sea lion, and dolphin shows and zoological displays featuring various other marine animals. There are operations in Orlando,...
. The village is operated by a small professional staff augemented by thousands of volunteers each year. Roughly 1200 volunteer shifts are completed each week.
The Village has a whimsical theme. It features 141 family villa accommodations, the Gingerbread House Restaurant, the Castle of Miracles and it's Enchanted Carousel, the Ice Cream Palace, Julie's Safari Theatre, Matthew's Boundless Playground, and other attractions and facilities for its guests. Every year, the Village welcomes more than 7,000 families; in 2010, it welcomed its 107,000th family from across the United States and more than 70 other countries.
The organization partners with corporations for volunteers, donations and in the case of Boston Market
Boston Market
Boston Market, known as Boston Chicken until 1995, headquartered in Golden, Colorado, is a chain of American fast casual restaurants. It is owned by private equity firm Sun Capital Partners, headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida.-History:...
and Perkins Restaurant and Bakery
Perkins Restaurant and Bakery
Perkins Restaurant and Bakery is a North American casual dining restaurant chain which serves breakfast throughout the day, including pancakes. Perkins also has a bakery that sells pastries that are baked fresh daily.- History :...
, restaurants supplied with both food and volunteers inside the resort. Families are also provided with a complimentary rental car courtesy of Avis Rent a Car during their stay which they pickup at the VIP counter at the Orlando airport.