I was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Wilm’s tumor when I was two. In 2001, my family and I stayed at Give Kids the World as part of my wish trip after a year of battling cancer. Although I was extremely young when my wish took place, I grew up with an amazing photo album that captured my memories and experiences! My wish trip gave my family a sense of normalcy and much needed time to breathe after a year of such extreme stress. (click for more)
Everyone who knows me knows that if I could pick the vacation destination each summer, I would pick Walt Disney World without hesitation. However, while on my wish trip in 2016, I discovered my second favorite place, and it’s not a theme park! (click for more)
One day at the beginning of junior year in college, I received an email of campus weekly announcements. I quickly scrolled through the email, when all of a sudden I saw the heading “Apply to Give Kids The World Alternative Spring Break Trip.”I had never heard of Give Kids The World before, so I went on their website and started to learn more. I instantly texted my roommate from sophomore year, who is also an education major, and said “We have to apply for this service trip.” This trip encompassed two of my favorite things: working with children and helping others. I wound up not getting a spot to go to Give Kids The World that year but was determined to make the cut senior year. I applied as soon as I could the following year, was accepted, and could not wait to spend my senior spring break 2020 volunteering at Give Kids The World. (click for more)
I started volunteering for Give Kids The World Village around 2011. One night in 2013 when I was closing out the office, I met Josh, who was volunteering that night in Katie’s Kitchen. We found out we both worked for The Walt Disney Company and had a few things in common and soon started dating. (click for more)
Ice cream is such a simple pleasure. It is something many of us love and crave and look forward to as a special treat. It brings joy and smiles and sometimes a sticky mess! That also describes life for my son, Louie. Louie loves and craves life, but along the way there have been plenty of messes to overcome. (click for more)
