The Christmas spirit was alive at Give Kids the World Village Thursday as toymaker Hasbro donated 5,000 custom Baby Alive dolls to help the Village host its Winter Wonderland holiday celebration every single week, 52 weeks a year.
“We are grateful for the tremendous support provided by our wonderful friends at Hasbro during the past 16 years,” said Give Kids The World President & CEO Pamela Landwirth. “Thanks to Hasbro’s generosity, critically ill children and their families have the chance to rediscover the joy and wonder of creative play and share priceless memories together that inspire happiness, optimism and hope.”
This extraordinary, life-changing experience is Give Kids The World’s gift, made possible only through the generosity of dedicated corporations and countless individuals.
“We’re proud that our teams came together to develop custom Baby Alive dolls in three different skin tones without hair to represent the kids who are undergoing or recovering from treatment,” said Kevin Colman, Hasbro Senior Director, Global Philanthropy & Social Impact. “The Hasbro-donated dolls will be distributed to children at Give Kids The World Village’s nightly parties and special events celebrating everything from the holidays to the birthdays of wish children and their siblings.”
Hasbro has partnered with Give Kids The World Village for 15 years, giving $10 million in philanthropic support, donating 480,000 toys and games and helping the Village fulfill dreams for more than 800,000 children and families. Hasbro has brought key elements of the Village to life, such as a life-sized Candy Land playground for children of all abilities, a customized Give Kids The World Candy Land game for every family that visits and a My Little Pony style spa.
They ensure that the holiday season comes to the Village not just once a year, but 52 times a year through weekly holiday celebrations. Every Thursday, wish children and their siblings will be able to enjoy a Winter Wonderland celebration, complete with a visit from Santa Claus and the perfect gift for every child, provided by Hasbro.
When the children set eyes on these magnificent dolls, the magic instantly filled their eyes. At the Village, through the generosity of donors, especially this time of year, these precious children learn that dreams really do come true. For one magical week, they and their families are immersed in joy, hope and non-stop fun – a welcome escape from the everyday challenges of coping with their critical illnesses. Hasbro is guided by its purpose to create joy and community for all people around the world, one game, one toy, one story at a time, which showed Thursday at Give Kids the World Village.
For more information on the Kissimmee village, visit gktw.org.
