1 person found this review helpful
Give Kids The World
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October 30, 2012
1 person found this review helpful
I am so blessed to be a volunteer Angel at Give Kids the World. I see first hand how the wish children and their families are the most important thing to every staff member and volunteer. I see the passion to make every day better, I see where the money goes, 93 cents of every dollar goes to making the experience so special. I see the support of amazing companies like Disney and Universal and how they make a difference every day. Come and see for your self, your life will be changed for the better I promise.
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
October 30, 2012
My daughter has been diagnosed with a terminal illness for which there is no cure. When I heard this, I was devastated. She does not know this. I submitted her name to Make a Wish Foundation because she wanted to desperately go to Disney World. Because her illness (Juvenile Hunington's Disease) takes away you ability to do everything, including walking, talking, eating, etc., I was hoping that she would have an opportunity to go before she became too immobolized to do so. Make a Wish set us up at GIve Kids the World and spoke so highly about it. I watched the video before hand and was in awe. They literally take care of everything for you. Everything is geared toward the children. The workers were phenomenal, all staff was as well, and the volunteers were eager to help in any way. The little apartments that we stayed in were perfect. The kids had the big bedroom and bathroom, with a whirlpool tub and all! There were pools all around to swim in and little snack bars along with the kitchen. One of the biggest attractions was the ice cream store that opened at 7:30AM so you could literally have ice cream for breakfast .... and we did! This was truly a dream come true and I can't recomment staying here highly enough! Thank you so much for all that you do for our children :)
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How would you describe the help you got from this organization?
A lot
How likely are you to recommend this organization to a friend?
Definitely
How do you feel you were treated by this organization?
Very Well
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
October 30, 2012
Oh my goodness, GKTW was the best thing that ever happened for my boys. I have two boys that have Cystic Fibrosis. My youngest had been granted a wish through the Starlight Foundation to go to Disney. I had never heard of the place till they gave us our itinerary for the trip. When we arrived both of my sons were greeted with gifts of Disney stuffed animals and goodies. Even though my youngest was the one with the wish, they treated my older son just the same. We were then given the royal treatment from there on. My son wore a button that showed he was from GKTW which gave us access to all rides and shows immediately, which made it easier to get around the park and not wait in long lines. The weather and fun would tire him out and we could get a lot in because of it. He even would get immediate access to the park characters for autographs. At first we really felt bad jumping in front of people, but the park people reassured us that GKTW children were special visitors and that it was fine to be taken to the front of the lines. Everyday after coming back to a bungalow each day at the parks, there would be gifts and goodies galore left on the kitchen table. It was like Christmas everyday. My youngest fell in love with one of the young teen volunteers and enjoyed her company while we were there. We kept in touch with her for a year till she moved. We then finally found her on Facebook after about 9 years and still talk about the time we spent there. Each day we enjoyed games, pool parties, movie nights, the ice cream parlor from morning to night each day, mini golf,fishing, crafts and trips to all of Disney parks, Universal Studios and Sea World. They even offered to watch the children and give us parents a night off to go to dinner, but we were having so much fun with the kids that we didn't want to missed anything. But it was truly nice to able to do so if we wanted. And the best was when the mascot Bunny came to tuck my son in for the night. We loved it so much, we wish we never had to leave. The week went so fast. I was actually in tears when we had to leave, because they gave my sons the most spectacular week of his lives. They didn't have to think about their medication, breathing treatments or their constant coughing the entire week they were there. From the time we got up to the time we went to bed, it was just fabulous. We just loved it there. It is truly a kids wonderland. Best to GKTW.
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How would you describe the help you got from this organization?
Life-changing
How likely are you to recommend this organization to a friend?
Definitely
How do you feel you were treated by this organization?
Very Well
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2000
October 30, 2012
My daughter was granted a wish from The Make A Wish Foundation and we had the privilege to stay at Give Kids The World. It is one of the most magical places on earth! There are really no words to adequately describe this place. The name fits the place because they do try to give kids the world for the week they are there. They have many activities for the wish kids as well as the siblings. It was the best experience we have ever had!
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How would you describe the help you got from this organization?
Life-changing
How likely are you to recommend this organization to a friend?
Definitely
How do you feel you were treated by this organization?
Very Well
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2006
October 30, 2012
GKTW is truly a magical place. They helped us forget what we have been through and to be more hopeful of the future. We will always have a place in our hearts for GKTW. I think my families favorite thing they do is they let you make your own star, and they put it up in The Castle of Dreams, and when you go back you can find it from when you were there. We just had the most amazing time at GKTW Village. We will definitely be back SOON, at least to volunteer to give back a small portion of what they gave to us. Even though we will never be able to make it up to the people and volunteers at GKTW, it is still helpful and really appreciated by them to volunteer. We all think it would be fun to volunteer at all the amazing places in Give Kids The World. We had the best time EVER.
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How would you describe the help you got from this organization?
Life-changing
How likely are you to recommend this organization to a friend?
Definitely
How do you feel you were treated by this organization?
Very Well
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
October 30, 2012
The most magical wonerful place on the planet its been a year since our visit and we will never forget any part of it the kindness and understanding of the people at give kids the world was second to none it was overwhelming amazing place amazing people amazing time !! Xx
More feedback...
How would you describe the help you got from this organization?
Life-changing
How likely are you to recommend this organization to a friend?
Definitely
How do you feel you were treated by this organization?
Very Well
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
1 person found this review helpful
October 30, 2012
1 person found this review helpful
I am a parent of two wish kids, Jonathan received his wish in 2004 and Anastayja received her wish in 2012. Both kids chose to got to Florida and stay at Give Kids The World. This was such an amazing experience for both children along with us parents. It was amazing to go to a place that had all the accommodations for a child in a wheelchair. Jonathan was 6 when he went on his wish, he has Cystic Fibrosis along with severe stomach deformities. We were told that he would never be able to tolerate food in his stomach and he had to be fed through his intestines. While on the trip Jonathan watched other "sick" kids eat by mouth and he decided to try it for the first time ever. This was such a great accomplishment for him. Now he is 15 and all feeding tubes are removed as he eats only by mouth. The trip changed his life and allowed him to look at being "ill" in a different view. Anastayja turned 9 while on her trip. We were told by physicians that they didn't think she would live to see the trip as she had to be revived several times before we left. Not only did she go on the trip but she only had one seizure which is a miracle in itself because she has hundreds daily, she stayed awake 18 hours a day instead of sleeping 18 hours a day, and her heart stayed strong along with her breathing was stable. She smiled and celebrated for a week. This break in her health gave us parents a time to smile and make memories. She stayed so strong for the trip and once it was over and we were in the airport her heart started to fail again and she stopped breathing. While on the plane she had seizures non stop for hours and stopped breathing again. We have been home for a week and she is still very weak. She sleeps most of the day and her seizures are back along with her heart and breathing problems. We do not know how much longer we will have Anastayja with us here on earth but I do know that we made so many great memories at Give Kids The World and that will last us a lifetime.
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How would you describe the help you got from this organization?
Life-changing
How likely are you to recommend this organization to a friend?
Definitely
How do you feel you were treated by this organization?
Very Well
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
October 30, 2012
My son was granted a wish to go to Disney in 2009. We had the most wonderful week at Give Kids the World. They went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect for us. We didn't have to worry about anything. My son was able to be a normal kid and we could be a normal family! Thank you for all you do!
More feedback...
How would you describe the help you got from this organization?
Life-changing
How likely are you to recommend this organization to a friend?
Definitely
How do you feel you were treated by this organization?
Very Well
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
October 30, 2012
My family and I stayed there during march 2011 and had the best service anyone could have! entertainment for the kids was wonderful it has special activities that will suit any old and will make them forget they are sick. We were a family of ten and they did absolutely their best when accommodating us! The always had little surprises waiting on the kitchen table every morning when kids woke up and had something for everyone. Give Kids the World is one of the bet places on this earth the kindness of volunteers and staff is so comforting and it just makes you happy to see that there are great people on this earth lending a hand! While we were there , there we college students all the way from Ohio and young teenagers, seniors all coming together! It's a wonderful place!
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How would you describe the help you got from this organization?
Life-changing
How likely are you to recommend this organization to a friend?
Definitely
How do you feel you were treated by this organization?
Very Well
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
October 30, 2012
My daughter was granted a wish to Give Kids the World in 2006. There is not a word big enough to say our gratitude to GKTW and all the amazing experiences we had. My daughter was confined to a wheelchair and it was one time in her life that something was just PERFECT for her and adaptable to her. You never had to worry about people staring....you were all the same there. The staff treated everyone like royalty!! It is a trip we continue to look back on and remember. We made so many amazing memories there! Our daughter sadly passed away in June 2008....we have since been back to Orlando twice and visited GKTW Village and were able to find our daughters star. It's wonderful to be able to go back and visit and relive those amazing memories! We will be visiting again over Thanksgiving and looking our daughters start again. Thank you Give Kids the World....you make dreams come true!!
More feedback...
How would you describe the help you got from this organization?
Life-changing
How likely are you to recommend this organization to a friend?
Definitely
How do you feel you were treated by this organization?
Very Well
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
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