In this touching two-part episode of Live Life Forward, we profile Give Kids The World Village, an 84-acre, nonprofit resort in Central Florida that provides weeklong, cost-free vacations to children with critical illnesses and their families.
“We made a promise that we will never turn down a child,” said founder Henry Landwirth. “And we will not turn down a child, ever. As long as we’re here.”
The incredible Give Kids the World Village offersaAccommodations in fully furnished villas, transportation, theme park tickets, meals, daily entertainment—all made possible thanks to support from its community partners, including prominent supporter Boston Market.
In the first of a two-part series, host Beth Troutman catches up with representatives from Boston Market in Fresh Meadows NY, just in time for a surprise announcement to the winning team leader about their annual fundraiser contest for Give Kids the World. Then Beth heads to Give Kids the World Village for a tour of its majestic grounds from a long time-volunteer turned full-time Director. The tour ends in the villas living area, where Beth meets a brave 5-year-old Wish kid and his family.
“NO CHILD IN NEED WILL EVER BE TURNED AWAY” ~ Henri Landwirth, Founder of Give Kids the World
In this second part of our episode on Give Kids The World Village, we continue to explore the magical nonprofit resort in Central Florida that provides weeklong, cost-free vacations to children with critical illnesses and their families.
Life Forward host Beth Troutman meets with Give the World Village President & CEO Pamela Landwirth and Boston Market CEO Frances Allen to learn about the Village and its partnership with Boston Market.
“It’s just amazing to wake up and see these children and families who are going through so many struggles but having the time of their lives,” Pamela said. Boston Market has been involved with Give Kids The World Village for 10 years, helping families come together for delicious homestyle meals while they’re at the Village.
Frances is passionate about making the lives of the families at the village as stress-free as possible, so they can enjoy every minute of their trip.
“We take (cooking) off their to-do list,” she said.
The highlight of Beth’s time with Pamela and Frances is a tour of a building that features gold stars on the ceiling for every single Wish kid who visits the village. Each star represents a child’s story, and the ceiling painted to look like a sky glistens with the memories of children who came to the village. Some of the kids fought and can come back to visit their star, and some lost their battle, but their star forever remains for the families who survive them.
Next, Beth visits Katie’s Kitchen, the dining hall at Give Kids The World Village, to get a firsthand look at how Boston Market is dedicated to serving the families staying at the Village. Beth then introduces the Maguire family to Maricela Goldstein, the winner of 2018’s Boston Market coupon book sale. Maricela truly has a heart for giving and has come down several times to volunteer at the village. Boston Market and Give Kids The World are both dedicated to bringing families together.
Beth closes her visit with the most unforgettable Winter Wonderland you could imagine—one filled with joy, love and laughter.
Henri Landwirth, the founder of Give Kids the World Village who passed away last year, was passionate about doing service work for children, in large part because his own childhood was marked by tragedy—both his parents were killed in the Holocaust, and he endured living in Nazi concentration camps from age 13 to 18.
“We made a promise that we will never turn down a child,” Landwirth said. “And we will not turn down a child, ever. As long as we’re here.”
Boston Market has been supporting Give Kids the World Village since 2008 by serving wholesome, family-style meals to the Village’s special guests and their loved ones.
As part of their contribution to the Village, every year all 450 Boston Markets across the country raise proceeds by offering coupon books. The team leader at the location that sells the most books is given a trip to the Village to experience the true beauty of giving back. Thanks to the partnership, over $5.5 million has been given to the Village.
Live Life Forward host Beth Troutman joins Boston Market Vice President of Operations Joe Alvarez as they travel to Fresh Meadows, New York, to surprise this year’s contest winner, store manager Maricela Goldstein.
Maricela discusses how rewarding it is to give to such a worthy cause, and why she is so grateful to be able to help the critically ill Wish children who visit Give Kids the World Village.