
Give Kids the World Village is a whimsical oasis for kids who are battling serious illnesses and their families. One of the top wishes for such children is to visit Walt Disney World, and Give Kids the World is where they go! The children and their families are provided a week long vacation where they can just enjoy life for a little while.
I’ve been to Give Kids the World Village several times, and this is truly where magic is made. Kids don’t feel out of place, and parents have a chance to relax a little bit. Siblings are also made to feel important. Both Halloween and Christmas are celebrated each week. Ice cream is available for breakfast. There are rides that are wheelchair accessible. There is a pirate ship, mermaids, and the world’s largest Candyland game.
Give Kids the World has celebrated a milestone that is both beautiful and somber. 200,000 wishes have now been granted. Children have visited from all 50 states and across the globe. Share Your Light is a new fundraising campaign. I was honored to be part of a media group that was invited to Give Kids the World Village to learn more. We also watched the first episode of After the Wish, which I’ll add at the bottom. Here’s the official press release with more information.
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Give Kids The World Village (GKTW) is thrilled to announce that it has fulfilled the wishes of 200,000 children battling critical illnesses, marking a historic milestone in its nearly four-decade journey. Give Kids The World has inspired happiness and hope by providing cost-free vacations to children with critical illnesses from around the world who ‘wish’ to enjoy Central Florida and its world class attractions.
In celebration of this milestone and their upcoming 40th anniversary, Give Kids The World announces Share Your Light: Celebrating 200,000 Wishes Fulfilled, an awareness and fundraising campaign culminating in a water lantern event on Saturday, June 21. The campaign will highlight wish families’ remarkable stories and the impact that ‘sharing your light’ can have on the life of a child with a critical illness. The campaign is also a call to action for individuals and partners to join us in advancing our mission in providing happiness and hope in the lives of children who face critical illnesses and their families.
“At its core, Share Your Light transcends our mission and connects to a larger, global sentiment,” said Danielle Deabler, Chief Advancement Officer for Give Kids The World. “We aim to share the untold stories of these families’ courageous journeys, while inspiring individuals and corporate partners to embody empathy and bring light and love into these families’ lives, as well as the world at large.”

Share Your Light Fundraising Initiative
As part of the Share Your Light campaign, Give Kids The World is offering several unique fundraising
opportunities to help ensure the organization is ready to welcome the next 200,000 families. To donate,
supporters can visit www.gktw.org/shareyourlight. Donors will receive exclusive benefits across three
giving tiers:
• $20: Access to a “do-it-yourself” water lantern kit to participate in from home.
• $200: An oversized water lantern art sticker will be placed on our Wall of Hope, an inspirational landmark that sits at the heart of the Village.
• $2,000: A water lantern will be released in donor’s honor during the Share Your Light water lantern event on Saturday, June 21.
After The Wish Docu-Series
Our Share Your Light campaign will also include a mini-docu series which will uncover the many stories of families the Village serves, donors, and volunteers. View the first episode, After The Wish: Charlie’s Wish, at www.gktw.org/afterthewish.
PATH Water Partnership
Give Kids The World is announcing a partnership with PATH, creators of the first refillable and 100% recyclable bottled water. PATH is donating two of their reusable water bottles for each incoming family, an in-kind donation that will total more than 30,000 bottles a year. This new endeavor will also include a GKTW-themed reusable water bottle that not only raises awareness around sustainable hydration, but also empowers consumers to make a difference with every sip.
“Partnering with innovative, socially responsible companies like PATH is a dream come true,” added Danielle Deabler. “We are deeply grateful for PATH’s partnership in our mission to support families and children who face unimaginable challenges, as well as the tens of thousands more who will be diagnosed with critical illnesses in the future.”
The custom, Share Your Light-themed PATH water bottle will launch this summer. More details will be shared as the launch date approaches.
“We’re incredibly proud to partner with Give Kids The World to make a meaningful impact,” said Ali Orabi, CMO of PATH. “This collaboration is about more than just offering magical experiences – it’s about creating lasting change by supporting children and families facing critical illnesses while advancing sustainability. Together, we are showing how purpose-driven businesses can make a difference in both communities and the planet, paving the way for a future where inclusivity and sustainability thrive together.”
Give Kids The World believes that Share Your Light will help symbolize their mission and amplify a message of light and hope that can illuminate every corner of the world. To learn more, visit
www.gktw.org/shareyourlight.
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About PATH
PATH is on a mission to eliminate single-use plastic bottled water with its reusable, 100% recyclable aluminum bottled water solutions. By combining sustainability with innovation, PATH is leading the charge in reducing single use plastic waste while offering high-quality, purified water. Visit www.drinkpath.com for more information.
About Give Kids the World Village
Give Kids The World Village is an 89-acre, nonprofit resort built exclusively to serve children with critical illnesses and their families. Children visiting Central Florida on their “wish trips,” stay with their families at Give Kids The World’s storybook Village for weeklong, dream vacations. Give Kids The World provides meals, transportation, nightly entertainment, and complimentary passes to Orlando’s world-famous theme parks and other attractions. There is never any charge to visiting families, and no child is ever turned away. Since 1986, Give Kids The World Village has served more than 200,000 children and families from all 50 states and 77 countries. GKTW is four-star rated by Charity Navigator, with more than 93 cents of every dollar it spends going to program services. For more information, visit www.gktw.org.