The Give Kids the World Village in Kissimmee kicked off its public holiday festivities with a Holiday Soiree held last week, and at a gathering for the media, staff outlined many more public events in the coming holiday season.
The 89-acre non-profit resort provides children with critical illnesses and their families from around the world with magical weeklong vacations at no cost to them.
“We are so excited to kick off the holiday season. I think we went straight from hurricane to Halloween and I can’t even imagine that we are already kicking off the holidays,” said Pamela Landwirth, Give Kids The World President and CEO. “October, November and December are the biggest fundraising months in any charities’ life because of the holiday giving, Giving Tuesday, and all of the events that happen. And we’re special because we have these events.”
Since 1986 the Village has hosted nearly 200,000 wish families from all 50 states and 77 countries to come laugh and play together and create memories away from hospital stays and medical treatment. The Lyons family from Fort Mill, S.C. is typical of a family at the Village.
Shea McKenzie was born in April 2016 without all four chambers of his heart. Shea has undergone three open heart surgeries, seven additional hospital stays, and countless doctor’s appointments and medicines.
But these days Shea, who spent a week at the Village with his family in October, beams a smile as wide as can be.
“I got to eat ice cream for breakfast and do horseback riding and go swimming while watching TV,” he joyfully remembers.
“We’re so grateful that you’re here to support Give Kids The World,” said Shea’s mother, McKenzie, to the gathered crowd. “Shea has taught us to embrace every day like there is no tomorrow. From the moment you pull on property through every experience you have with a staff member or a volunteer, you just cannot imagine the happiness that the Village brings to the entire family.”
Upcoming events for the public include the 2024 Gingerbread Run Under The Lights on Nov. 23 and special History and Holidays Tours with Landwirth, who has been with the organization since it’s earliest days.
Holiday Light VIP Tours are also available, providing a guided walkthrough of the Village lasting under two hours. The Parties with a Purpose program allows groups and businesses to host their holiday parties by celebrating their holiday at the Village. Ice Cream for Breakfast with Santa allows the public to meet Santa and have their photos taken while enjoying ice cream. There are also four Holiday Classic movie nights, which, in addition to large screen holiday movies, will also feature live music with performers from the Central Florida Community Arts choir and jazz band. Each event allows the public to both help support the mission of the Village, as well as view the over the top holiday decorations and festivities.
“We’ve got about 1.5 million Christmas lights up this year,” said Mark Richards, Development Specialist for the Village. “We’re still putting up some more. They said we’ve got to stop putting up Christmas lights. I wanted to say two, but I think it’s 1.5 million.”
For tickets to public holiday events and more information about Give Kids The World’s mission, volunteer opportunities and other activities visit www. gktw.org/holidays.
