The IAAPA/GKTW World Passport for Kids program has continued to grow, as IAAPA’s partner facilities hosted 8,028 “wish” children and family members during 2002. Although the monetary value of the program was estimated at $321,120 in 2002, the magical memories created are priceless.

Throughout the year, both IAAPA and GKTW receive overwhelmingly positive feedback from families who have experienced the World Passport program. The following note represents one of many similar appraisals:

Dear IAAPA,
Thank you for our World Passport! Your efforts and contributions to GKTW are so important to us, and will leave everlasting memories in our hearts. Our son Alexander, who is confined to his wheelchair, was given the utmost attention to his needs at all the five parks we have visited. Alexander’s older brother J.R.’s dream to ride the attractions with his little brother finally became a reality. We are looking forward to visiting other parks in the future.

We wanted to especially thank IAAPA. The World Passport for Kids is such a wonderful way of extending the GKTW experience and rejuvenating our family well beyond our days at the Village. Your association is an inspiration to us.

In addition to expressing our family’s thanks for your support, we encourage you to continue your generous support of GKTW. It is a caring organization that truly makes a difference in the lives of the families it has the opportunity to touch.
Thank you again,
The R. Family

Survey Aids Progress

Over the past seven years, the World Passport program has progressed tremendously. To ensure that it continues to develop successfully, IAAPA and GKTW requested that World Passport partners complete a survey to share their input on how to enhance the program.

World Passport members responded enthusiastically to the survey and offered numerous helpful suggestions for improving the program. After reviewing ideas from the survey, the IAAPA Marketing/PR Committee and related IAAPA and GKTW staff began implementing changes that will make the program even more efficient, effective, and enjoyable for everyone involved. Additionally, survey participants indicated that they want to collaborate more with IAAPA and GKTW to expand public and industry awareness for the program.

Overall, the survey results communicated the common message that partners believe strongly in the World Passport program and the powerful effects that it has on the GKTW families, as well as their own organizations. Each and every survey included a response to the question: “What are your favorite reasons for participating in the World Passport program?”

Highlighted here are just a few of the participants’ responses:

• “It benefits the most deserving kids in the world! It reinforces the concept that family fun is good medicine. It makes us a part of a worldwide network of businesses that care.”
• “This experience has always been extremely rewarding for our staff.”
  
• “We are a very small business so we have limited funds for donating to a charitable organization. Being involved with this program gives us an opportunity to help others without having to write a check.”
• “It takes so little to make a great day for them!”
  
• “It’s a chance for us to do what we do best—create wonderful memories that last a lifetime—for families who need it the most and who might not otherwise be able to join us.”
  

If your organization participates in the World Passport program and you did not have an opportunity to complete the survey, please contact Kathy at GKTW, at kathya@gktw.org. Input from World Passport partners or any other member of the amusement industry is always appreciated and welcome.