Give Kids The World

Give Kids The World (GKTW) Village is a 70-acre, non-profit resort in Central Florida that creates magical memories for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. It is located about twenty minutes from my apartment.

In 1986, Henry Landwirth was the manager of a hotel in the area when he was contacted to compensate a hotel room to make a child’s wish come true to visit Walt Disney World (WDW). Unfortunately, during the process of making arrangements, Amy, the ill child, passed away and Henry was contacted to be notified that they would no longer be coming to Florida.

This situation inspired Henry to found GKTW so that every child with a life-threatening illness with the wish to come to WDW could make it here before passing on. Time is the one thing these children do not have. It wasn’t until 1989 that the actual village opened up, but the village is something else.
The village had 140 villas for families to stay in for one week. GKTW partners with 250 wish foundations from across the world to bring children to central Florida. Just a month or so ago, GKTW welcomed their 1,000,000 family. People have visited from all 50 states and over 70 countries.

If a child’s wish is to come to central Florida, GKTW can have them here in 48 hours – cost free to the family. The resort has everything from food places like the Gingerbread house, Katie’s Kitchen, and the Ice Cream Palace to mini golf, arcade, swimming pool, fishing pond and a movie theater. The families have access to anything in the area that they wish to go to – Walt Disney World, Seaworld, Universal, Gatorland, Kennedy Space Center – any attraction in the area. Again, families enjoy this week long adventure cost free – what an amazing blessing.

A good video with the story and tour of the area:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo1haStdWuQ
Or visit their website: www.gktw.org

It is such a fascinating place. I share this with you because I volunteered at GKTW two weeks ago with my group from work. But, last Saturday, I attended orientation so that I may volunteer on my own. When I went with my work group, I worked in the Ice Cream Palace and Katie’s Kitchen. Now that I have completed orientation, I can go back at anytime and work a variety of shifts. I’m looking forward to volunteering there more before my program ends in May.

Give Kids The World is also featured in a movie that was just released April 9 called Letters to God. It’s based on a true story of a boy with cancer writing letters to God during his illness. The boy the movie is based on actually spent a week at GKTW and his star is on the ceiling of the castle (if you watched the youtube video, you understand the stars). Also, the co-star, Bailey Madison was on property the night I volunteered and she actually came into the Ice Cream Palace and served ice cream. She is a sweetheart.

I hope you enjoyed learning about this small piece of heaven for children with life-threatening illnesses. I had never heard of it until I moved down here, so I wanted to share!