Donate to Give Kids the World!
Over the years, some readers who have found the blog helpful have asked if we have any ways they can donate or give back to the site. Up until now, we have not. Given this blog’s emphasis on money-saving tips for Disney vacations, it seems sort of ‘off-message’ to ask for your money in return.
However, one thing that is ‘on-message’ no matter who you are is giving back to worthy charitable organizations. That is why we’re proud to share a way that you can help us to give back: by donating to Give Kids the World Village, a nonprofit that provides families of children with life-threatening illnesses cost-free accommodations during their visit Walt Disney World and Central Florida.
Being fans, I think we all can agree that Walt Disney World vacations are happy, memorable experiences that leave us with lasting memories and make a huge impact on us. The impact and meaning of that experience is definitely greater for some people than others, though…
For families of children who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, who have had to rise to the challenge of a grueling schedule of doctor appointments, painful treatments, and escalating medical expenses, having a chance to visit “the Most Magical Place on Earth” is an opportunity for a temporary reprieve from that immense stress and worrying.
A big part of this special experience is certainly Give Kids the World Village. This is a place where magic happens, in every sense of the term. When a family arrives at Give Kids the World Village for their once-in-a-lifetime trip, the team there moves mountains to ensure that each family has an amazing experience. It’s a place where “no” is not in the vocabulary.
You can read the full story of what Give Kids the World is, its history, and what it offers on the GKTW website. In a nutshell, Give Kids the World Village is the place where families stay when they have been given a trip to Central Florida by wish-granting organizations (e.g., Make-A-Wish).
Calling Give Kids the World a “place to stay” is actually a colossal understatement. Give Kids the World Village provides families a 79-acre resort with 168 villa accommodations, unique entertainment attractions, venues, and fun activities for children of all abilities. It’s not “just” a resort or play to stay while these families visit Walt Disney World, Universal, etc., it’s more like an extension of the magic of the theme parks, a place where the families can continue to have a memorable trip when they are not in the parks.
Give Kids the World is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization (meaning your donation is tax-deductible) with a perfect 100 score on Charity Navigator. Less than 1.8% of their revenue is spent on administrative expenses, which is an exceptionally low amount. (It should also go without saying, but we are not receiving anything for this ‘endorsement’ of Give Kids the World, and your donation is made directly to GKTW.)
I had first heard of Give Kids the World Village a few years ago when doing a 12-hour live show for Be Our Guest Podcast to benefit GKTW. We had heard about it more over the years, talking to friends who volunteer there, and all of them gushing about just how special of a place it is. So, this week Sarah and I decided to check it out for ourselves, spending some time at Give Kids the World, meeting with the team there to discuss how we could help, and touring the village.
To call Give Kids the World Village a magical place would honestly be an understatement. We were both incredibly moved by the visit. From the enthusiasm of the families staying at Give Kids the World to the passion of the volunteers and staff, there was a palpable energy to the place–like I said, magic.
Moreover, when I say they’ve eliminated “no” from their lexicon, I really mean it. The team shared a few stories with us while we were there, and it was incredible. Their philosophy is that these families face enough trials and tribulations during the grueling treatment periods, and are constantly reminded of limitations–so removing all of those for these families while at Give Kids the World is a top priority.
One of the things on our tour that resonated with me the most was Ice Cream Palace, which opens at 7:30 a.m. each morning (before any other spot at GKTW!) so kids can have ice cream for breakfast. If you know me, I think you know I’m a big advocate of ice cream, and hearing about the enthusiasm kids have for being able to enjoy ice cream for breakfast was awesome.
I was even more excited when the Give Kids the World team shared that one of their big fundraising initiatives right now is for a makeover to Ice Cream Palace, which will transform it into “Henri’s Starlite Scoops” featuring a retro space theme, designed by Walt Disney Imagineering as a tribute to the founder of Give Kids the World, Henri Landwirth. Here’s the concept art they shared with me for the new ice cream spot:
Speaking of Imagineering, they and numerous other departments at Disney offer support to Give Kids the World, in the form of volunteer teams, financial assistance, resources to help improve facilities, and even weekly Disney character appearances. Executives from Disney even sit on the Board of Directors and Advisory Board of Give Kids the World. Suffice to say, Walt Disney World and Give Kids the World work very closely with one another.
Also along the Disney lines is the founder of Give Kids the World, Henri Landwirth, a holocaust survivor with a surreal story of perseverance. What Henri has done since is nothing short of amazing, and in reading his story, I think you might find he reminds you of someone else who has made an impact on the lives of countless children the world over…
I could go on and on about Give Kids the World. From their touching Star Tower to the “Alternative Spring Break” volunteer program, there’s a ton that could be said.
Any amount can help make a difference to a child who has been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, and we really hope you’ll consider making a contribution to Give Kids the World.
If you’ve gotten even a “churro’s worth” of enjoyment or information out of this blog, please make at least a $5 donation to Give Kids the World. It’ll make you happier than that churro would, and will make an infinitely more significant difference.
Alternatively, donating your time to Give Kids the World Village by volunteering is an excellent idea. By volunteering, you can help families create special memories that will last forever; the experience will also leave you with a feeling of being a part of something magical.
We intended this to be a concise ‘donation pitch’ but it’s already become long-winded, and I feel like I still haven’t covered all of the good that Give Kids the World is doing. Please read the Give Kids the World website if you have any additional questions. It’s a truly remarkable organization, and one that is deserving of your help.
So, if you like this blog and have found it has helped improve your vacations, please consider donating. If it hasn’t been particularly helpful, but has provided some amusement or been a nice time killer at work, please consider donating. Even if you’ve found the blog neither helpful nor amusing and you only “hate-read” it, but you want to help make a difference, please consider donating. Basically, please consider donating. 🙂
This is going to be an ongoing fundraiser effort, but to really get things started Sarah and I will match reader donations over Memorial Day Weekend (up to $500). That makes a $1,000 goal through Monday, and we are confident you all will help us come through and hit that target. Thank you for reading, and for your continued support of the blog!
Click here to make your donation to Give Kids the World directly on their secure site.
UPDATE: Within an hour of posting this, we’ve already exceeded our goal for the weekend. Wow…we are speechless. Thank you all so, so much–we’ve made our matching donation and are excited to see how much we can raise for Give Kids the World over the course of the rest of the weekend.
UPDATE 2: We reached out to our sponsors, and Be Our Guest Vacations has indicated that they will match the next $500. DVC Rental Store has pledged to match the $500 after that. DVC Resale Market will match the following $500. So, keep those donations coming! 🙂
Thanks!
~Sarah & Tom Bricker
How can someone not give after reading this post!
Thanks for sharing your love of ThemeParks with Us. ThemeParkHD is happy to match the next $500 after DVC Rental Store.
I have loved this place and been a donor for a few years. I must also say they are great to their donors and I love their newsletter. Thank you for sharing!
Another way to support them is to use AmazonSmile when you shop an Amazon. It’s free, when you shop on amazon, you chose a charity, and GKTW is an option, just go to smile.amazon.com in stead of amazon.com and they donate a small portion of you purchases to the charity you choose.
I just donated gladly to this wonderful cause and in gratitude for all the information, photos and humour I enjoy on a regular basis in your blog. I am so happy and not at all surprised that you have decided to choose the village to support. Well done all ’round!
This honestly made me tear up a bit. What a fantastic charity that I had no idea existed. I am happy to donate and thank you for bringing this to our attention and for all the love and care you have put into your blog through the years! As several readers have commented, this just makes me respect you two even more than before!
Tom & Sarah, my daughter could have been one of their guests at a few points in her life, so I know how much this means – I’m finally taking her (at 22!) this fall. Glad we didn’t need them back then but also glad they’re there for those that do. Love reading your posts, your sense of humour comes through loud and clear. And now I have such tremendous respect for you both … as a Canadian, we sometimes shake our heads at what goes on south of our border – but you and Sarah are proof that you can’t judge the many by the actions of the few. Bless you both, donated with great joy!
Just remember: plenty of us Americans shake our heads at what goes on here, too! 😉
Thanks for the awesome post, Tom and Sarah! I have been donating to GKTW for many years now (10, maybe more) through the government’s CFC program (so all you gov’t workers out there get to your CFC reps now and donate to 11874!).
Once I retire and get me a cast member job, I hope to spend my free time volunteering for them. Happy to see you out pimping for them, and more happy to see the donations rolling in!
This is a great tip! People should definitely check to see if there’s a way to get a donation match for GKTW through their employer, because if so, definitely go with that. The more money going to GKTW, the better. Doesn’t matter the “route” it takes to get there!
Okay you know what’s funny here?
You two tend to be dismissive of your semi-rockstar status within the community and that’s totally okay…that’s an extra layer of pressure no one needs. BUT the resulting karma of six years of free quality content is undeniable.
Ya know that scene at the end of “It’s a Wonderful Life” where people burst through the door with baskets of money? Yea, it’s looking a lot like that.
For what it’s worth, I’m fairly dismissive of the notion of “celebrity” in general, not just with regard to our…whatever it is that we have. I think fame can be toxic both for those who have it and to those who celebrate it. The world could use more people aspiring to do things that are actually important, not seeking fame for its own sake. I’ll cut this off before it becomes a rant… 😉
With that said, thanks for the incredibly kind words. We’ve been blown away by the reader response to this.
I wholeheartedly agree. I just think it’s great for exactly that reason. You two never ask for recognition but you have it and in this case happened to make something very cool happen.
Nipping up on $6,000 🙂
My mom volunteers weekly at GKTW and she often talks about how humbling it is to work with the kids and families. I am tearing up at my desk reading this post, knowing what a powerful, amazing, generous organization it is. <3 I love that you guys are raising money for such an awesome organization, and your photos are, of course, gorgeous as always. 🙂
Done! I’ve been a long time reader thank you for all you and Sarah do with the blog!
Tom and Sarah,
Love that you did this! I am a bigger fan of yours, then I was yesterday (if that’s possible). Happy to oblige! Keep up the great work 🙂
Thanks for making me aware of this organization, Tom and Sarah. It has long been a goal of mine, should the financial opportunity present itself, to enable families like this to enjoy a few days at WDW, something we sometimes take for granted because we are fortunate enough to visit each year. A donation is an easy start toward this goal.
Hope you and Sarah enjoyed your own magic this week at WDW!
Jim
Thanks for talking about Give Kids the World. My daughter and I are regular volunteers there and the happiness we see in the families is truly priceless.
Wow- already past the $1000 goal, and you posted this what, an hour ago? Pretty cool 🙂 Thank you for posting about this!
Done! Thanks so much for sharing information about this organization and prompting donations.
Poor post grad, but I did what I can for now. Thanks for supporting a great cause Tom and Sarah!
I just felt goose bumps.
My brother’s “wish” from Make-A-Wish was to go to Disney World. So, we spent a week at the Kids Village. When you say “no” is not in their lexicon, you are absolutely right. My brother and I could get whatever we wanted, and as a 7 year old at the time, you better believe I was eating all the ice cream I could (I think I also ate banana pudding at every meal). From visiting WDW, Universal Studios and the Kennedy Space Center, to fishing at the pond, to the unlimited arcade, it was a week filled with memories.
That was the last time my brother would visit Disney, and although it is a few decades later, those memories stick with me today. It is a phenomenal cause that puts the child at the forefront and provides a chance for him/her and the family to have a bit of freedom and normalcy that they don’t typically have. I could write longer, but as you know, it is a great cause.
It is awesome that you’re supporting this organization.
That’s really touching–thanks for sharing.
You probably already know this, but one of the things the GKTW team told us is that “day guest” visits by people like you are pretty common. People like to go back to see and relive some of those cherished memories. Just thought I’d share in case it’s something that might interest you! 🙂
I just donated! Also, my company does a charity match so my donation should double!. If anyone donates this weekend check with your employer to see if they have a matching program as well. Cheers!
I have volunteered at Give Kids the World and have a friend who’s family spent time there. It is an amazing organization. Thank you and Sarah for supporting it.
I’ve been a fan of the Disney Tourist Blog and Travel Caffeine for quite awhile now and value your info on Disney travel and will be using more of it on our first trip to Tokyo Disney Resort in July. As someone who has loved Disney all her life, I would love to support this charity and give kids a chance to enjoy some Disney Magic when they need it most!