The Official Magazine of IAAPA
Kissimmee, Florida (IAAPA News) - In the ravages of World War II, the Nazi regime stole Henri Landwirth’s childhood from him. But for the last 40 years, Landwirth’s legacy has created a renewed sense of hope for the thousands of families who have passed through Give Kids The World Village--as well as the generosity of IAAPA and its members.
Give Kids The World Village provides weeklong, all expenses paid vacations to critically ill children and their families. During their time at the Central Florida theme parks, families stay at the Village: an 89-acre resort in Kissimmee, Florida. The Village was inspired by the vision of Henri Landwirth, a Florida hotelier and Holocaust survivor. After losing the race against time with a young leukemia patient named Amy who dreamed of visiting the central Florida theme parks, Landwirth vowed to never fail another child’s dream.
On Friday, the Village celebrated its 40th anniversary with the unveiling of a new animated film that tells the story of Landwirth and his legacy, “What Henri Gave the World,” alongside his star joining over 201,000 stars representing each wish child that has experienced Give Kids The World.
President and CEO Caroline Schumacher’s introduction to IAAPA began not long after starting as a volunteer coordinator in 1999. “What I really understood in the beginning was just how generous they were, letting us have a booth at the expo and seeing how cool that was,” Schumacher tells IAAPA News. “And then we get, you know, an attraction donated and arcade games donated. And so that was just my early exposure to it…So just even from my very start, they've been integrated into who we are.”
Over the years, the contributions of countless IAAPA members have helped create memorable experiences for children and their families. Whether it’s a carousel made by Vekoma, a robotics lab from Garner Holt Productions, or three flat rides from Zamperla, Give Kids The World Village is full of special experiences crafted from partners throughout the industry. The flat rides are fully accessible so everyone can experience them. Disney and Universal worked together to create the Starlite Scoops ice cream diner, united in furthering the purpose and mission of the village.
“We are actually busting at the seams with presents from the IAAPA members."
“We are actually busting at the seams with presents from the IAAPA members,” Schumacher says. “But more than that, they're really part of our family. If you attend any of their events, whether it's the big expos or the small activities they do, you realize what a family atmosphere different companies [bring]...We're really proud to showcase that through Give Kids The World.”
Even after leaving their weeklong experiences, IAAPA still finds a way to give back to the families. The IAAPA World Passport for Kids provides complimentary admission for children and their families at participating member facilities. “Programs like the World Passport for Kids showcase the power of our industry to create joy and meaningful impact,” says Katie Pfingsten, Vice President, People and Culture at IAAPA. “Through the support of the IAAPA Foundation and the participation of IAAPA member parks, attractions around the world can help extend the magic of Give Kids The World Village and create unforgettable experiences for the children and families they serve.”
IAAPA provides a strong network that also connects Give Kids The World to other association members. “We reach out to experts in the industry all the time about ride safety, ride training, aquatics…We lean into the industry quite a bit,” Schumacher says. “What a resource for us. We're a nonprofit, so we don't necessarily have those strong subject matter experts or really large departments. So it's great that we can reach out to members for some of that.”
Eryn McConnell Palladino’s late brother, Marc, was a Wish Child in 1999. Give Kids The World ensured he would never be forgotten by adding Marc’s DinoPutt minigolf course, developed in conjunction with Universal Creative. The minigolf course has played host to family gatherings and major milestones, allowing Marc to remain part of family milestones. “Anytime we are getting together, even rather than going to the cemetery, this is where we come to celebrate, and we make new memories that he's part of, and the joy that he gets to still experience with us, and then the stories that we get to share about him with people everywhere,” Palladino says.
For Palladino, IAAPA is an association that brings together the best in the industry to create good in the world around us. “Because of the way that you bring all of these creative minds together, whether it's your engineers who build these rides, the people who are the creative teams behind them, it creates that thread that unites all of the different [partners] and brings them together,” Palladino says. “Give Kids The World is one of those wonderful hubs where all of you can come together and celebrate all of the gifts and talents that IAAPA brings together to make magic.”
For members wanting to get involved, Schumacher encourages learning more about the organization through a free tour, volunteering, or joining the World Passport Program. For 40 years of success, Schumacher thanks IAAPA for its support. “I can't say how appreciative we are of everybody in the IAAPA organization, and then all the members too,” Schumacher says. “I mean, we're just grateful. We're absolutely grateful, and we couldn't have brought it to here without them.”
