www.parkworld-online.com
Park Hoppin’ In association with Park Hoppin’with Susan Storey L
ast month I had the opportunity
to take part in an event at one of my favorite places, Give Kids The World Village. My story and journey with the whimsical Village began when I was
on the Walt Disney World College Program. As Disney interns, we were introduced to a hidden place that had a mushroom-shaped Castle, and a Gingerbread House restaurant, all created for children with critical illnesses and their families. I began volunteering there regularly, serving ice cream, helping with events and engaging with the kids. The wish children who stay at the Village are fighting battles most of us could never imagine. Their parents and siblings fight this alongside them, sacrificing normal family activities for doctor visits and hospital stays. Give Kids The World provides a break from that. As Give Kids The World president Caroline Schumacher lives. For one week, families are embraced and surrounded by joy, supported by volunteers and the opportunity to leave the real world behind so they can focus on being together and creating Give Kids The World as a college student would help shape my personal and professional life. The attractions industry has been a part of Give Kids The World since the very beginning. Founder and he had strong ones in Central Florida when he first started Give Kids The World in 1986. To help streamline the wish granting and planning process, he went directly to leaders at Walt Disney World, SeaWorld Orlando and Universal Orlando Resort and inspired them to commit to providing complimentary admission to the families. They did not hesitate to pledge their support, and have remained dedicated partners ever since. Henri next turned to attractions industry suppliers, designers and creators to help him build the magical place where the families would stay, dine and play. Vekoma built and donated the designed the Castle of Miracles, and over the Space Racers, IAAPA, Sally Dark Rides, Baynum, amusement parks and attractions around the world. Since Henri first founded the nonprofit organization, more than 200,000 families have had a wish through Give Kids The World. My journey with Give Kids The World has
been a unique one, too. I went to work there introduction got involved with IAAPA. As I moved through my career, I have remained a partner and a volunteer. I have proudly worked for companies that are strong supporters of Give Kids The at the Village before my son was born. Today, he volunteers there as part of the GKTW Train Crew, working alongside several retirees who keep an incredible interactive model railway on track for the kids. This industry has also remained close to the Village and its mission. Along with so many companies, dedicated industry leaders like Jeff Hudson, Chloe Hausfeld, Walt Bowser, Jim Pattison, Jr. and Jim and Sara Seay donate their and other industry events. On March 7, Give Kids The World celebrated
Hundreds of partners and volunteers came team and current wish families for an incredible alumni wish families who returned to the Village to take part. Wish families are part of a club that no one wants to join; their child has a critical illness. When they come to Give Kids The World, they are surrounded with the quiet knowledge that others understand, and this is their time to worry is choosing to have vanilla or chocolate ice cream for breakfast, or deciding to visit Mickey though families can only receive one wish trip, an
average of 12 alumni families a week visit Give Kids The World to say hello to the team members and volunteers, to remember their experience, small plastic star during their stay. They print their name and personalize it in some way. Then, they take it to the Castle of Miracles so Stellar the Star twinkling sky. It is a lasting and deeply personal reminder of each child. For first time visitors, looking up at that sparkling ceiling of stars is an awe-inspiring, and quieting, moment. During the Goode. I first met Johnny when he was 12 years old and battling liver cancer. After his wish, his family was so moved by their wish experience, they relocated to Florida so they could stay connected with the Village. His mother even worked there for several years. Today, Johnny is is an incredible and inspiring man. I also met a more recent wish child, 11-year-old Oliver who had his wish in 2023 when he was fighting brain cancer. Today he is a bright, engaging kid, and chose to choose kindness and unite others in his efforts to help kids in need. This month I dedicate this column to Henri, in honor of Give Kids The volunteers and supporters from this industry, and to baby William Tyler Jacobson III, whose mom, child who told her doctors Give Kids The World is magic medicine for kids like her. Truer words have never been spoken.
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