For use by the producers of WUCF TV’s ONE.

Dear ONE Producers:

Central Florida is known for its abundance of tourism. The fantasy worlds created at the theme parks in the region offer the perfect escape from reality for vacationers from around the world. Give Kids The World is a nonprofit organization that’s utilized all the magic of the theme parks of Central Florida to create an opportunity to help those in need. Their 70-acre resort-style village offers weeklong fantasy vacations to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families at no cost to them. The resort runs on the hard work of volunteers from Central Florida and from around the country.

Give Kids The World Village would be a perfect topic for an episode of ONE. Your viewers want to learn more about what makes their community unique. Give Kids The World takes the image of theme parks and resorts in Central Florida and places it in a whole new light. This segment will help the residents in the area appreciate how the region’s reputation for tourism is used to give hope to those in need. It will also demonstrate how the local community is volunteering to help people around the globe.

A segment about Give Kids The World Village will fit in with ONE’s mission to educate, entertain and engage. Viewers will learn about a unique nonprofit in Kissimmee that offers volunteer opportunities through a story that’s both entertaining and heartwarming.

We’ve included a list of some of the events that Give Kids The World would be happy to allow you to film. If you choose to pursue this story, we can provide you with an exclusive tour of the resort facility. We’ve also included some materials about how Give Kids The World serves the Central Florida region and families from around the world. Please let us know if there’s anything else Give Kids The World can do to assist you with the story.

Sincerely,

PUR 3100 Students

A child’s dream awaits in Central Florida

History Give Kids The World began with a girl named Amy and a hotelier named Henri Landwirth. Amy had leukemia and her last wish was to visit the theme parks in Orlando, Fla. To help grant her wish, Landwirth allowed for a complimentary stay at his hotel. Unfortunately, Amy passed away before her wish was granted. Landwirth made a vow never to let this happen to a child in need again, thus creating Give Kids The World. Landwirth called on his colleagues in the hospitality industry to help bring these families to the Central Florida area within 24 hours. From there, he provided cost-free experiences to these children with life-threatening illnesses and their families that were sure to be unforgettable.

What is the village? Give Kids The World Village opened in 1989. The village is a 70-acre nonprofit resort with more than 140 accommodations, entertainment, attractions and venues all designed for children with special needs.

Mission More than 115,000 children have had their dream come true at Give Kids The World. No child in need has ever been turned away; and no child ever will. Give Kids The World is a place where families find joy, laughter, serenity and a lifetime of memories. Through the support of volunteers also known as “Angels,” employees and generous partners, we dedicate each and every day to these special families.

Core ValuesCompassion We put first priority on the needs of chil-dren and their families. We reach out to all of our guests to make them feel like members of our family and help make magical memories.Dedication We do whatever it takes to provide a joyful and quality experience for every guest. We al-ways do our best, individually and collectively.

Credibility We earn and maintain the complete trust of our corporate partners. We use all donations effectively and efficiently to achieve our pur-pose. We protect the interests of all supporters.

Integrity We always try to do the right thing. We are honest and straightforward with each other and with our sponsors. We admit mistakes and do our best to correct them. We focus our energy and resources on the children we serve.

Team Work We help each other and feel collectively responsible for achieving our mission. We are individually accountable for our roles and commitments. We ask for help when we need it, and provide help when needed.

�ve Kids The World Fact Sheet

How Are Children Selected? The village is for children between the ages of 3 and 18. Children must be diagnosed with a life-threatening illness by a licensed doctor. Children are sponsored in their local communities by one of more than 250 wish-granting organizations and children’s hospitals that partner with Give Kids The World. If the child wishes to visit Central Florida, Give Kids The World Village is contacted and makes the arrangements.

Board of Directors Founder Henri Landwirth President Pamela Landwirth

Corporate Partners Walt Disney World Walmart Universal Orlando Sea World

Location Give Kids The World Village is located in Kissimmee, Fla., near Central Florida’s most popular attractions.

For More Information Visit http://www.gktw.org.

Hasboro Perkins Boston Market Coca-Cola

�ve Kids The World Fact Sheet

The storybook resort offers a fun, whimsical environment to families strolling down the Avenue of Angels, participating in village events or simply enjoying each other’s company.

The cobbled streets on the Avenue of Angels lead you deeper and deeper into a child’s dreams and imagination. The green trees that line the walkway create the belief that you’re entering a fairy tale. Explosions of color and even the smallest details on the intricate attractions begin to bring you something many can only describe as overwhelming joy. Everything that once belonged in a toy chest is blown up life-size including a gingerbread house, toy train set, Candy Land board, pirate ship and fantasy castle. Here are some sights you’ll see when a child’s dreams become reality:

Around The Village

In Amberville, families challenge each other to a round of Dino Putt mini golf and Mom sinks one in underneath a brontosaurus. Kids howl with glee on a train ride as the conductor takes off and the wheels start turning while the whistle blows. It’s an inter-active train station “built” with Tinkertoys where children also race remote controlled boats, visitors marvel at a model train set that takes up a whole room and older kids compete on arcade, Wii and XBOX games.

At Keaton’s Korral, children saddle up and are led on noble steeds worthy of the finest prince or princess. For many, it is their first time on a horse and their reactions of joy and excitement bring their families smiles. Nearby, other encounters with nature await. At Bob Sparkleberry’s Nature Trail and Pond, families view wildlife and you can capture the enthusiasm of guests as they reel in a catch.

Visuals

At the Gingerbread House, families are served scrumptious dinners of kid-friendly food, like hot dogs and mac and cheese. But the venue is also kid-friendly in that it offers child-sized tables filled with 27,000 real peppermint candies. In this venue, you’ll catch volunteers serving dinner with a smile, kids fighting over how many pep-permint candies are really in the table and one probably insisting, “It’s most definitely a million!” The Gingerbread House environ-ment far exceeds what you’d expect. The pink building’s entrance is held up by candy canes and the windows are disguised as cupcakes. Inside, more than 2,000 dolls line shelves and smiling flowers greet families.

In the Park of Dreams, disabled children roll into the pool from a ramp and their brothers and sisters splash in after. But the real fun begins as they roll and run through an interactive water garden where flowers shower down water and fountains burst from the ground. A rainbow colored 80-foot long pirate ship that’s washed ashore serves as the stage for entertainment like Family Double Dare on Monday nights where many dads find themselves the victim of a sliming.

Ice Cream Palace delivers on every kid’s dream as towers of ice cream are scooped from morning until night. The building is held up by ice cream cones, giant bananas serve as the archway and the pinnacle is two cones holding up a bowl of ice cream as a monument to deliciousness. To top it off, families even sit in giant ice cream bowls as they devour as much as they can handle. Many kids end up with more on their faces than in their mouths.

Visuals

The Castle of Miracles seems larger than life as kids observe the giant beanstalk that twists around it, the overgrown mushroom that houses a carousel and an ancient tree that speaks when they pass. Kids hop on zebras, horses, pigs and lions at the handicap-accessible Enchanted Carousel and many take the ride again and again, often before and after each meal. Inside the castle, Twinkle Hope’s La Ti Da Spa offers the royal guests a full experience, with face painting, nails, makeup, hand massages and airbrush tattoos. Twinkle Hope is the My Little Pony designed for Give Kids The World and she sits atop one of the cabinets for all to see. Children are pampered at bright blue vanity stations that line the cobblestone walls and parents wait patiently in plush colorful chairs. When guests enter further into the castle, they find more attractions to explore. There’s an enchanted forest for children to run, jump and play through. In addition, the pillow machine is a giant pink and yellow mechanism that spurts bubbles and only creates a pillow after children have done some-thing silly at the request of the volunteer, like the chicken dance with Elmo. Lastly, in the Star Program, kids commemorate their visit by writing on stars. A virtual star fairy then places their star on the ceiling and the kids are encouraged to make a wish. As such, in the most stunning feature of the castle, above your head are thousands of stars in memory and celebration of the wish children that have visited the village. Many families have come back to see their children’s stars and the glittering ceiling serves as a reminder to volunteers of their mission.

Visuals

Weekly EventsSeveral weekly events offer unique opportunities to see the village in action as families join together to celebrate life and make memories; here are a few:

At Matthew’s Boundless Playground, a giant Candy Land board comes to life as children line up to play a game. Volunteers surround the children and encourage them to sing, dance and play as they voyage through the Gumdrop Pass and Lollipop Forest to the Candy Castle.

Sunday: The World’s Largest Candy Land Game

This event offers a unique opportunity to observe volunteers in action. Volunteers are partnered up with children and bring them around to explore the village for the night. You can catch a duo practicing swings at Dino Putt, singing while going around on the carousel or laughing while eating at the Ginger Bread House. The night ends with Village Idol, where duos and families can choose to sing or sit back and enjoy. As one can expect, Taylor Swift tunes are quite popular and it’s amusing to see a middle-aged volunteer perform with an 8-year-old wish child.

Wednesday: Kid’s Night Out and Village Idol

Every Thursday the Avenue of Angels features interesting guests for families to meet. Dancing candy cane girls, Christmas trees, Frosty and Santa himself make their way down the street in a parade. It culmi-nates in a big dance party with snow cones, cookie decorating and actual snow next to Julie’s Safari Theatre. In the theater, kids have the chance to meet Santa and each kid gets handed a present by Santa’s elves. Some children carry their dolls and trucks down the decorated avenue to Storytime Corner, where volunteers read books aloud at visitors’ requests.

Thursday: Winter Wonderland

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The FamiliesThis dreamland surrounds you with sounds of joy, as families bustle from one activity to the next on the vacations that have been the one true wish of their child. Families are the true stars of the village. Each family calls a storybook villa home while at the Give Kids the World Village and Mayor Clayton and Ms. Merry, the town bunnies, come for tuck-ins at night. The kids also have the opportunity to meet Disney and Universal characters several mornings each week for picture perfect moments.

“I used to be a non-believer in all that children see. In the stress and chaos of my life I lost the child in me. Yet, now I’m a believer in enchanted castles and whimiscal wells, in parks of dreams and ice cream palaces and magical carousels! I believe in a giant bunny being the mayor of a town. I believe in the magic of giving, and because of it our lives have been turned around.” - Joshua’s family, New York.

Visuals

Brad Loewen never imagined he’d move from his home in Canada to Central Florida for the sole purpose of volunteering. But when his son Noah was diagnosed with a rare, fatal chromosomal abnormality, his life was flipped upside down. When Noah was three, the Children’s Wish Foundation and Give Kids The World were able to send him and his family to the Give Kids The World Village. There, Noah was able to experience the theme parks of Orlando and fulfill his one true wish.

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By Jessica Sykes

After Loewen saw how meaningful this trip was to his young son, he decided he wanted to help the organization in any way possible. In Canada, Loewen is a certified paramedic who owns and operates CPR & First Aid and Paramedic, Fire and Flight training companies. He’s found that he can use his professional skills as a volunteer at the Give Kids The World Village. He’s already begun hosting first aid training classes for the staff. He plans to relocate to Central Florida permanently with his family this summer so that he can continue to volunteer.

In order to obtain a visa that will allow Loewen and his family live in the U.S., Loew-en has opened a new business in Orlando called “Thrive Response, Inc.” It’s a CPR and paramedic training company named in honor of his son Noah, who was said to have been born with a “failure to thrive.”

Loewen’s dedication to Give Kids The World is demonstrated by the fact he’s willing to move his entire life and livelihood to a new location just so that he’ll be able to volunteer. His skills in teaching CPR and First Aid will be an extremely beneficial asset to the village. The knowledge he brings to the staff and volunteers could potentially help save lives of visitors.

Loewen’s drive comes from the fact that his son would be proud of his volunteer work. Being at the village on a regular basis will allow him to remember and honor Noah. He says, “Every day when I walk by his paver stone outside the Ice Cream Palace, I can say, ‘this is for you.’” Loewen’s heartwarming dedication to Give Kids The World is an ideal example of how the organization brings joy to families and can transform the heartache in their lives into happiness and hope.

“Noah, this is for you.”

As the clock struck 5:30 a.m., Joe Koch was on his mail route in Philadelphia. Despite the darkness, people expected to get their mail on time and Koch knew he had a job to do as postman. This was Koch’s life for 38 years. Today, as a retired postman and Give Kids The World Angel, he delivers smiles to children in the village every week. Koch first heard of Give Kids The World when his wife was staying with her niece. They were in the middle of a move to Florida and Koch picked up the freebie paper outside the home. Give Kids The World was searching for Angels to assist in village operations. Koch volun-teered a few shifts in the Gingerbread House and when they eventually moved down, he knew he’d found his new purpose. More than 20 years later, Koch has com-pleted more than 20,000 hours of service at the village in nearly every role, from operat-ing the carousel to delivering daily gifts to families. In 2004, he volunteered for more than 4,000 hours, a feat that is unachieved by any other Angel. This is the equivalent of working 11 hours a day for 365 days! In 2009, he received the President’s Volunteer Service Award. Koch has dedicated himself to tireless service despite the death of his wife and his survival of prostate cancer and quadruple bypass surgery. The smiles of visitors are what keep him going. Koch enjoys meeting families and talking with them. He remembers all the love he’s seen at the village. Two wish children met there and came back to get married in the chapel when they were old enough. Two parents from Ireland were married in the

chapel with their three children as witnesses. A family came down with 13 children, all of whom had been adopted from different states. He also remembers stories of hope. A first grader who came to the village wasn’t supposed to live more than a year longer. But Koch stayed in touch with the family and they’d visit him each time they came to Florida. Last year, Koch received an invi-tation to her graduation and the girl who wasn’t supposed to live another year will now be going to college. Koch admits, “Sometimes days are long, especially when we’re short on volunteers.” One day there were 82 families arriving at the village and only four gift givers to serve them. Let’s just say a lot of trips to Walmart were needed. Koch loves the looks on family’s faces when they come into the village for the first time. He says it looks like they all want to live there and stay forever. He says, “Thank God they can come here.” Some people tell Koch they don’t know how he can be surrounded by families experiencing so much pain. But he claims volunteers get to see families in a dream world and watch them experience much needed happiness, which is anything but depressing.

By Jamie Gregor

From the Post Office to the �ngerbread HouseAngel Joe Koch Always Delivers Smiles

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Koch himself brings much of this happi-ness to families. An Angel Spotlight on the GKTW Facebook page about Koch received more than 300 “Likes,” 18 shares and a whole page of comments. One contributor said, “When medicine has done all that it can, it’s the love and faith of GKTW Angels that we find so healing. Joe’s compassion-ate spirit will live on forever in the hearts of families, friends and all those whose lives he’s touched!” Koch’s stories also include the visitors that have touched him. He recalls, “There was a little girl on the carousel who was troubled because she’d lost her hair. I leaned down, took my hat off and said, ‘At least yours will grow back. Mine won’t!’” Another child asked about the empty vil-las and said she was going to hide in one when her parents left in the morning. Koch asked, “What happens when you get tired

of it here?” She replied, “I’m going to worry about that later. Right now, I’m hiding!” The village holds a special place in Koch’s heart as well. Describing the village, he says, “It’s awesome and amazing. Families can’t believe it exists. The smiles and words of their kids who barely smile or speak blow their minds. Then the families are happy because their child is happy and the wish child doesn’t feel alone because other kids are in the same situation there.” These smiles and the ability to help de-liver them are what keep Koch coming back at least three times a week. Koch recounts, “John Stamos was on the Board of Direc-tors and we got to know each other. Ten years later, Stamos returned and recognized me. He said, ‘You’re still here, Joe?’” Koch laughed because it wasn’t the only time he’d heard that question. Henri Landwirth, the founder of Give Kids The World, asks this every time they see each other around the village. Still, Koch reports in the early morn-ing. At 6 a.m., he arrives at the gingerbread house. Despite the darkness, he’s still ready to deliver. Only this time, he’s delivering gifts and smiles. And although the recipi-ents aren’t expecting him on time, he’s made it his personal mission to make their stay at the village a dream come true.

Angel-2-Gregor

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News Release

For immediate release

Jamie GregorUniversity of Central Florida727-422-4255 (cell)jamiegregor@knights.ucf.edu

Give Kids The World celebrates 2 million volunteer hours

ORLANDO, Fla. (April 21, 2012) – Last week, Give Kids The World celebrated a milestone in community involvement with a cumulative total of 2 million volunteer hours. The occasion was acknowledged with a celebration titled “Volunteering Never Stops: 2 Million Hours and Counting” on Wednesday, April 18. Past and present volunteers were invited to attend the event, which included speakers, recognition opportunities, raffle prizes and commemorative shirts.

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�ve Kids The World Celebrates 2 Million Volunteer Hours

Give Kids The World president Pamela Landwirth said, “Our angels have truly changed the lives of our children and our children have changed the lives of our angels. We can’t thank them enough for all that they do for Give Kids The World — but, most importantly, for bringing happiness and hope to more than 115,000 children with life-threaten-ing illnesses and their families from around the world.”

As the Give Kids The World website points out, 2 million hours is the equivalent of 228 years or the terms of 57 U.S. presidents. This monumental achievement appropriately occurred during National Volunteer Week and now places the organization as one of only a handful to achieve this milestone around the world. During the last 26 years, more than 50,000 volunteer “Angels” have filled an average of 1,400 weekly shifts, saving the organization more than $39 million in labor costs.

Give Kids The World’s media representative says, “Each year volunteers hand-sew more than 21,000 pillowcases for our Magic Pillow Tree, serve more than 260,000 meals in our Ginger-bread House and deliver more than 23,000 pizzas.”

According to Volunteer Director Beth Whitmire, “Our volunteers anticipate the happiness they will bring into the lives of our children, but they never anticipate the amount of happi-ness and hope our children will bring into their lives.”

Those who were unable to attend the event last Wednesday can celebrate the happiness and hope they’ve been given in another way. Give Kids The World has created an online memo-ry website at http://www.angelmosaic.com. In celebration of the 2 million volunteer hours, the organization started the website to allow families and volunteers to share how the village has inspired and shaped their lives. The mosaic is composed of 10,000 individual photos and will be displayed in the Gallery of Angels.

Recognized as the highest rated charity in America by personal finance site MainStreet, and also reported by MSN Money, Give Kids The World Village (GKTW) is a 70-acre, non-profit resort in Central Florida that creates magical memories for children with life-threat-ening illnesses and their families. GKTW provides accommodations at its whimsical resort, donated attractions tickets, meals and more for a weeklong, cost-free fantasy vacation. With the help of many generous individuals, corporations and partnering wish-granting organi-zations, Give Kids The World has welcomed more than 115,000 families from all 50 states and more than 70 countries. For more information about GKTW and its mission, visit givekidstheworld.org.

Volunteer-2-Gregor

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These days, it’s rare to find organizations that truly exist to help others. It’s even more uncom-mon to find people who are willing to devote their lives to helping those in need. But Give Kids The World has been granting wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses cost-free for 25 years. Appointed president in 1995, Pamela Landwirth has worked tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of the children that have been affected by these life-threatening illnesses.

Landwirth oversees all the major operations of Give Kids The World Village. She has a hand in the fundraising, communications and corporate alliances for the nonprofit. It’s no easy feat with a staff of more than 3,500 but Landwirth is just the person to do it. With 16 years of experience working with the Walt Disney World Company, Landwirth has gained a strong background in resort operations management, human resource development and employee relations.

Through working for Disney, Landwirth learned that success is the result of the guest experi-ence. She said, “We don't get a second chance to do things right, because our guests have only one chance to experience this wish.” Landwirth notes her father as being her role model, he too was involved in community service. “He’s touched the lives of thousands people; his car-ing, wisdom, patience, integrity and sense of humor have set a standard that I can only dream of one day being able to approach,” says Landwirth.

Aside from her duties within the organization, Landwirth also sits on the Executive Advisory Board for the Something mAAgic Foundation and the Nonprofit Advisory Board at the Uni-versity of Central Florida. When she’s not busy granting wishes, Landwirth also enjoys travel-ing and cheering on her Bulldogs at University of Georgia football games.

Landwirth says, “the past 25 years have truly been a journey of love for Give Kids The World.” Of her many accomplishments throughout the years, Landwirth is most proud of her three children and representing Give Kids The World.

Pamela Landwirth can be reached via email at plandwirth@gmail.com.

PresidentGive Kids The World

Pamela Landwirth

Website SynopsisThe following is a sample description of a segment about Give Kids The World that could be used by ONE to promote the segment on their website:

Give Kids The World is a nonprofit organization that’s utilized all the magic of the theme parks of Central Florida to create an opportunity to help children with life-threatening illnesses. The organization runs on the hard work of volunteers from the community and provides cost-free vacations to families whose children’s last wishes are to visit attractions in Central Florida.

Write to us: Give Kids The World Village 210 South Bass Road Kissimmee, FL 34746

Call us: 800-995-KIDS or 407-396-1114

Fax us: 407-396-1207

Email us: dream@gktw.org

Visit our website: www.gktw.org

Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/#!/gktwvillage

Follow us on Twitter: @GKTWVillage

Subscribe to us on Youtube: www.youtube.com/givekidstheworld

Jamie Gregor: jamiegregor@knights.ucf.edu 727-422-4255

Jessica Sykes: jesssykes@knights.ucf.edu 813-394-3983

Natasha Christman: natashac@knights.ucf.edu 321-412-0095

Contact Sheet