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Give Kids The World Recognized as Highest Rated Charity in America Give Kids The World Village has been recognized as the highest rated charity in America by personal finance website MainStreet. The news website based its analysis on the evaluations of thousands of national charities by Charity Navigator, America’s leading independent charity evaluator. Click the link below to read more. More Info: Press Release
U.S. Restaurants, Inc. Raises $75,000 for Give Kids The World U.S. Restaurants, Inc., a franchisee of BURGER KING® Corporation, announced today that its BURGER KING® restaurants in Pennsylvania and New Jersey have raised $75,000 for Give Kids The World Village. Click the link below to read more. More Info: Press Release
Give Kids The World Wish Child Turns On The Holiday Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios On November 10, Give Kids The World wish child Ryley Mitchell “flipped the switch” on more than 5 million dancing lights at the opening ceremony for the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Read more at the link below. More Info: Press Release
Kangaroo Express Raises Over $233K in 30 Days to "Give Kids The World" The Pantry, Inc., the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern United States, today announced that its Florida Kangaroo Express locations have raised more than $233,000 for Give Kids The World Village. Read more at the link below. More Info: Press Release
Give Kids The World Gingerbread Run 5K Makes Magic Love filled the air on Saturday morning at the annual Give Kids The World Gingerbread Run 5K presented by Nickelodeon Suites and Pool Parts Online. More than 600 people from the Central Florida community (and beyond) ran, walked, rolled and strolled to help provide magical memories for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Through corporate sponsorships and individual donations, almost $50,000 was raised for Give Kids The World Village. Read more at the link below. More Info: Press Release
Calvin Klein Stores Raise More than $72,000 for GKTW Florida Calvin Klein Stores donated more than $72,000 last month to Give Kids The World (GKTW), a Central Florida “storybook” resort for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. More Info: Press Release
Enterprise Holdings Raises More than $16,000 For Give Kids The World Employees from the Orlando operations of Enterprise Holdings, the parent company of the Alamo Rent A Car, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and National Car Rental brands, have helped to raise more than $16,000 for Give Kids The World through a marathon bowling event held June 9 in Orlando, Fla. More than 550 people, including employees, company vendors, and friends and family, participated in the bowl-a-thon benefiting Give Kids The World Village. More Info: Press Release
Former Wish Family Gives Back to Give Kids The World in a Big Way Brad Loewen knows first-hand the true meaning of the words “giving back.” The 36-year-old from Winnipeg, Canada, is moving his family 2,000 miles south for one reason—to be closer to Give Kids The World Village so that he can volunteer for the organization that provided so much happiness for his family. More Info: Press Release
Golf Channel Am Tour Donates More than $30,000 to GKTW The Golf Channel Am Tour (GCAT) today donated more than $30,000 to Give Kids The World (GKTW) on behalf of the more than 5,000 GCAT members from the 2011 season. GKTW is the official charitable organization for Golf Channel. The donations were collected from participants at the GCAT 25, two-day “Major Championships” from the 2011 season and from the 2010 GCAT National Championships at TPC Sawgrass. More Info: Press Release
Corvette Club of Orlando Helps Fulfill Wish of 16-Year-Old Boy The grin on 16-year-old Buddy LaFontaine’s face couldn’t have been any wider on Monday morning as he slipped into a sleek, black, Chevy Corvette C5 for the first time in his life. A car fanatic, Buddy had dreamed his entire life of riding in a Corvette and this week Give Kids The World (GKTW) and The Corvette Club of Orlando made Buddy’s dream come true. More Info: Press Release
Mickey Maniacs Raise The Bar Higher For Give Kids The World Michelle Plaisance is the founder and the leader of the Larose Cut-Off Middle School “Mickey Maniacs,”—a group of vivacious middle school students who raise awareness and money for GKTW by hosting golf tournaments, bake sales, 5K runs and dozens of other fundraisers. Named the “Mickey Maniacs” because of Plaisance’s affection for all things “Disney,” the group of more than 500 people now includes parents, teachers and community members. To date, the group has raised more than $470,000 and, according to Plaisance, they plan to reach $500,000 by next year. More Info: Press Release
"Coasting For Kids” Raises Over $62,000 for Give Kids The World More than 250 amusement park enthusiasts rode roller coasters for a cause on July 24 as part of Cedar Fair Entertainment Company’s “Coasting For Kids” event. Held at 11 Cedar Fair parks across North America, the marathon coaster event helped raise more than $62,000 for Give Kids The World. More Info: Press Release
Reality Television Stars Participate in Survivor Weekend Benefitting Give Kids The World Stars from the hit television shows “Survivor”, “Big Brother”, “The Amazing Race”, “Desperate Housewives” and more, used their star power for a greater cause this past weekend as participants of Hearts of Reality, a 3-day “Survivor Weekend” benefitting Give Kids The World Village (GKTW). More Info: Press Release
Riding Roller Coasters for a Cause Cedar Fair Entertainment Company announced today that amusement park enthusiasts across the country will have the chance again this summer to ride roller coasters for a cause. On Sunday, July 24, all 11 of the company’s amusement parks will participate in the third annual “Coasting for Kids” fundraiser. More Info: Press Release
GKTW Receives Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator Give Kids The World (GKTW) announced today that it has been awarded a 4-star rating for sound fiscal management for the sixth consecutive year by Charity Navigator, America’s largest and most-utilized independent evaluator of charities. Only 4% of the charities rated by Charity Navigator have received the coveted 4-star rating—the highest rank possible—for at least six years in a row. More Info: Press Release
GKTW Receives Kissimmee City Key Give Kids The World (GKTW), a non-profit resort that has provided happiness and hope for more than 107,000 children with life-threatening illnesses and their families, was honored today by Kissimmee, Fla. Mayor Jim Swan with “The Key To The City.” At a ceremony held during a City Commission meeting, Mayor Swan presented the key to GKTW President Pam Landwirth along with the Citizen Recognition Award to four outstanding GKTW staff members for their individual efforts in going above and beyond for the City of Kissimmee. More Info: Press Release
First Annual Give Kids The World 5K Fun Run Raises $41,000 The first annual Give Kids The World 5k Fun Run raised an amazing $41,000. The top female runners were Jen Alvarez, Diane Doppenburg and Rebecca Blue and the top male runners were Daniel Conn, Anthony Staffa and Cale Dobay. Congratulations to the Run’s almost 400 participants.
Boston Market Celebrates Anniversary of Katie's Kitchen Boston Market joined Give Kids The World to celebrate the one year anniversary of the Village’s Katie’s Kitchen restaurant. Boston Market also gave the Village a tremendous gift – a donation of more than $858,000 so that Katie’s Kitchen can continue to provide meals for Wish families.
Environs Donates Ship to GKTW During the IAAPA Attractions Expo, GKTW President Pamela Landwirth and the Enivrons team celebrate the amazing donation of a new ship for the Village's Park of Dreams. The brand new addition is a generous gift from Environs and will be complete in January 2010.