Jul04VillageNews

Thanks to the Hummer division of General Motors, the much-coveted H2 made an appearance at the Peabody Orlando as a live auction item for the Give Kids The World 2004 Black & White Gala.

Another hit that night was a live auction package from Coca-Cola Foodservice & Hospitality and American Airlines. Together they presented the Ultimate Sports Package, which included tickets, hotel accommodations, and airfare for events such as the MLB World Series, the NFL Super Bowl, and the Masters of the Augusta National Golf Club.

IAAPA members also gave generously to the silent auction. Six Flags joined the auction for the first time with the donation of an “Around the Six Flags World” package that includes 20 passes for admission to any Six Flags Park, as well as special offers and additional tickets for Six Flags Great America, Six Flags Great Adventure, Six Flags Over Georgia, and Six Flags Magic Mountain.

The Central Florida theme parks also chipped in, as usual. The safari-themed magical experience donated by the Walt Disney World Company featured accommodations at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, three days of “park-hopping” fun for four, a “Very Special Sunset Safari” dinner at Boma Restaurant, a safari-themed gift basket, and much more. Universal Orlando presented two types of auction packages: the VIP Tour of Universal Orlando for 12 and the Universal Mardi Gras that invites the highest bidder and 29 guests to enjoy the park and high-energy fun of riding atop an ornately decorated float during a Saturday night Mardi Gras parade including park admission for 30. The “Play with the Animals at SeaWorld” package from SeaWorld Orlando invited the winning bidder and a guest to get involved in three daylong programs: Trainer for a Day, Sharks Deep Dive, and Marine Mammal Keeper Experience.

IAAPA members were very visible in all other aspects of the gala as table sponsors, attendees, and entertainers. Even the dessert included raspberry sherbet Dippin’ Dots to complement the Chocolate Obsession creation of Peabody Corporate Executive Chef Karl Edlbauer. Thanks to the contributions of IAAPA members, The Peabody Orlando, and many other benefactors, the gala raised more than $572,000 for GKTW.

In other news, Give Kids The World is proud to announce that Mears Transportation Group served its 5,000th GKTW family in May 2004. A loyal, generous partner of GKTW since day one in 1986, Mears helps to shuttle the GKTW families between the airport, Central Florida theme parks, and the Village. Mears has made approximately 350,000 of these shuttle trips. The estimated value of this donated service is more than $2 million.

Each month, an average of 30 GKTW families choose to use Mears shuttle services for the convenience and the comfort of not having to worry about directions or traffic in their own cars or rental vehicles.

Thank you, Mears, for everything.