Give Kids The World

Give Kids the World
IAAPA’s support of the Give Kids The World Village in Kissimmee, Florida, USA, is very important to the children with life-threatening illnesses who visit this special place. When a child and family arrive at the Village, they have already faced the many challenges of a world filled with hospitals, doctors, and medical treatment. For six magical days, those worries are forgotten, as they visit the Central Florida attractions and stay at the Village, all for free.

How You Can Help Give Kids The World
IAAPA members help these children smile, both during their visit to the Village and when they return home. Running Give Kids The World (GKTW) is just like running a theme park, for the Village contains rides, games, recreational water facilities, and restaurants, while making use of everything from plush to furniture to computer software. To help meet those needs, IAAPA manufacturer and supplier members can donate to GKTW year-round, including the expertise needed to assist with maintenance and other follow-up issues. The Village maintains a wish list especially geared toward the products and services provided by the global amusement park and attractions industry. To request a copy or discuss other ways of supporting the organization, please contact GKTW’s Kathy Aubruner at +1 407/396-1114 or kathya@gktw.org.

Give Kids The World IAAPA World Passport for Kids Program
Once children leave the Village, the same medical challenges await them again. To provide additional special times when families return home, many IAAPA facility members have joined the World Passport for Kids program. Through the progam, IAAPA member facilities offer one day of free admission for Wish children and their immediate families, redeemable during a one-year period following their stay at the Village in Kissimmee. By taking part in this program, IAAPA members open more than just their gates to these families; they open their hearts.

Here's how the World Passport for Kids program works:

• When families depart the Give Kids The World Village, they receive a World Passport and a list of participating IAAPA member facilities with contact information.
• The families are instructed to contact the facility they wish to visit in advance. In some cases, the health of the child does not permit such prior notification, so amusement parks and attractions are encouraged to be flexible with families who show up at the gate.
• The Passport is for the entire immediate family listed on the Passport, not just the Wish child, and is valid for one year from date of issue.
• As a member of the program, participating IAAPA member facilities are only obligated to provide free admission. However, many participants also offer other amenities and services to the families like free parking, strollers, or wheelchairs.

To Enroll Your Facility in the World Passport for Kids Program, complete the Partner Contact Information form and submit. If you have additional questions, contact Jan directly at +1 703/299-5747 or by e-mail at jmccool@IAAPA.org.