KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The nonprofit Give Kids The World Village celebrated a major milestone on March 6, marking 40 years of bringing hope, joy, and unforgettable memories to children with critical illnesses and their families.
Positively Osceola was on hand at the Village in Kissimmee as the organization kicked off its 40th anniversary celebration with a special unveiling inside the whimsical Castle of Miracles, honoring the legacy of its founder and the more than 200,000 families who have experienced the magic of the Village over the past four decades.
A highlight of the event was the premiere of a new eight-minute feature film, “What Henri Gave the World,” which shares the inspiring life story of Henri Landwirth — a Holocaust survivor whose vision and compassion led him to create Give Kids The World in 1986.
The film will now be a permanent part of the Castle of Miracles experience, where more than 201,000 gold stars hang from the ceiling, each representing a wish child who has visited the Village during a dream trip to Central Florida.
Give Kids The World began when Landwirth, then a successful hotelier in Central Florida, learned about a young girl with cancer whose wish was to visit the area’s theme parks. Having lost his own childhood during World War II, Landwirth was deeply moved and determined to help. What began as a small nonprofit operating out of a closet in one of his hotels eventually grew into the 89-acre storybook Village, which opened in 1989.
Today, the Village welcomes children with critical illnesses and their families for weeklong, cost-free dream vacations that include lodging, meals, transportation, nightly entertainment, and complimentary admission to Central Florida’s world-famous theme parks and attractions.
“For the past 40 years, Henri’s love and legacy have inspired us to continue what he started,” said Caroline Schumacher, president and CEO of Give Kids The World. “Every day we welcome families who are supporting a child with a critical illness and surround them with volunteers, partners and team members who create a week focused on fun and time together.”
More than 40 former “alumni wish families” returned to the Village for the anniversary celebration, sharing stories about the impact their visits had during some of the most challenging moments of their lives.
Katy Gore, who visited Give Kids The World as a wish child in 1989, said the experience left a lasting impression.
“Being a Wish child at Give Kids The World was truly a life-changing experience,” Gore said. “Henri and Give Kids The World are inseparable in my childhood memories. His passion for making sure every child felt magic, dignity and love shaped the way I see the world.”
Guests attending the anniversary event also had the opportunity to meet the filmmakers behind the new feature, including Gary Landwirth, Henri’s eldest son, along with writer and producer Audrey Perrott, director Fernando Tosetti, and narrator Annetta Wilson.
Visitors also experienced the “Hope and Humanity” exhibit, currently on loan from the Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center of Florida. The exhibit shares the stories of ten Central Florida Holocaust survivors, including Landwirth, and will remain on display at the Village through May.
The anniversary celebration marks the beginning of a year-long series of events commemorating the organization’s 40-year legacy, including Founder’s Day honoring Landwirth’s 99th birthday, the Give Kids The World Golf and Gala Weekend in May, and the Gingerbread Run 5K in December.
Since welcoming its first families in 1986, Give Kids The World Village has served more than 200,000 children and families from all 50 states and 77 countries, providing a week where doctor visits and hospital stays are replaced with laughter, unlimited ice cream, theme park adventures, and time together as a family.
As the organization begins its next chapter, its mission remains the same — ensuring that children facing the toughest battles are given a week filled with happiness, hope, and memories that last a lifetime.
