Survivor Weekend/Summer Sidewalk Sale | Celebration Town Center, Florida
Give Kids the World:
Our Story:
The story of Give Kids The World begins with a little girl with a wish and the desire of one man to make that wish come true.
The little girl’s name was Amy. Amy had leukemia and one wish – to
visit the theme parks in Orlando. To facilitate Amy’s wish, the request
of a complimentary stay was made to a respected hotelier. As he had done
many times before, the hotelier gladly obliged and Amy’s wish was that
much closer to being realized. Sadly, the remainder of Amy’s travel
plans took too long to arrange and her wish was never granted; Amy had
passed away. Time simply ran out.
This unfulfilled wish inspired a man, the hotelier, to make a vow
that no child in need would ever be failed again. That man was Henri
Landwirth and his desire to ensure that Amy’s story would never repeat
itself is where the story of Give Kids The World begins.
The Village:
Landwirth enlisted the support of colleagues in the hospitality
industry, including our world-famous theme parks, to assist him in
bringing these special families to Central Florida within 24 hours if
need be. He called the project “Give Kids The World,” because that is
just what he intended to do – provide memorable, magical, cost-free
experiences to children with life-threatening illnesses and their
families.
As the program expanded and the number of families continued to grow,
it was apparent that Give Kids The World would need to create a place
that could better serve the special needs of our families. The gates of
Give Kids The World Village opened in 1989.
Today the Village is a 70-acre resort complete with over 100 villa
accommodations, entertainment attractions, whimsical venues, and fun
specifically designed for children with special needs.
With the help of many generous individuals, corporations and
partnering wish-granting organizations, Give Kids The World has welcomed
more than 93,000 families from all 50 states and over 65 countries.
