I was listening to a Disney podcast this week all about a place called Give Kids the World Village in Orlando. I had never heard of this place and frankly, was amazed by all that they do. I’m not in a position to donate gobs of cash but want to help where I can. So for the month of August, for every Disney or Universal vacation package booked with me, I will donate 10% of my commission to this organization. This is good for travel booked anytime from now through 2020 as long as it’s booked in August.
As usual, this won’t cost you a penny more. You don’t pay me a commission - that comes from Disney or Universal. And they don’t charge you extra to pay me. They charge the same amount whether or not a travel agent is involved. So this is a win-win-win for everyone!
Please read on to find out more about Give Kids the World! I am so thankful that part of the reason I haven’t heard of it is that my kids are healthy. I know that’s not the case for far too many families and it’s wonderful that these kids have someplace like this to have an awesome vacation.
Give Kids The World Village is an 84-acre, nonprofit resort in Central Florida that provides weeklong, cost-free vacations to children with critical illnesses and their families.
The Village and its community partners provide children and their families accommodations in fully-furnished villas, transportation, tickets to theme parks, meals, daily entertainment and much more.
Our goal, quite simply, is to provide everything these deserving families need to make their trip the vacation of a lifetime. Since 1986, more than 167,000 children and families have had their dreams fulfilled in a whimsical Village unlike any other place on earth.
Each year 27,000 children are diagnosed with a critical illness. We know that nearly half of those children wish to visit a Central Florida attraction or theme park. For the wish-granting organization that serve these children, fulfilling a wish is only a telephone call away.
Give Kids The World Village is for children between the ages of 3 and 18, who have been diagnosed by a licensed doctor with a critical illness. Children are sponsored in their local communities by one of over 250 wish-granting organizations and children's hospitals that partner with Give Kids The World to grant these children their special wish vacation to Central Florida. If the child expresses the wish to visit Central Florida, then Give Kids The World Village is contacted and arranges a joyful, week-long vacation, at no cost to the family.
Give Kids The World finances its work through individual contributions, corporate donations, special event fundraisers and generous in-kind donations, including attraction tickets, meals and gifts. However, the organization also must cover cash expenses for the operation of Give Kids The World Village. These expenses are in excess of $12 million annually. This funding is provided through corporate promotions, fundraising events and private donations. Give Kids The World does not solicit contributions over the phone or door-to-door.
Give Kids The World is committed to fiscal responsibility in stewarding the resources provided to us in fulfilling our mission. Of each dollar spent in the fiscal year 2015, approximately 93.1 cents was devoted to our program mission of providing a cost-free magical vacation for our special children and their families. Very few charitable organizations reach and sustain this level of administrative and fundraising efficiency.
Please check out their website at https://www.gktw.org/
There is a donate button that you can click if you want to help out. And if you’re thinking of a trip anytime in 2020, just let me know. Your trip would be even more Magical knowing that a portion of it went to these kids!