Saturday mornings can be quiet at the Village, as wish families prepare for the day’s adventures and head off for the theme parks.

But not last Saturday.

On August 18, the Village was bustling with more than 1,100 volunteers from the Worker’s Compensation Institute (WCI), who arrived ready to beautify the Village.

For one father-daughter duo, Mark and Diane Hernandez, being at the Village brought back memories of their 1996 wish trip.

“At home all the kids would be out playing but my family and doctors were worried I could get hurt,” said Diane, who had just gone into remission after her battle with cancer. “But, at Give Kids The World, I was able to actually be a child.”

After dealing with treatments, their trip to Give Kids The World gave their family a welcome break. Mark remembers how their trip made for great – and badly needed – family time.

“Treatments were a bit of a hardship. One parent would be with me, while the other would be with my two sisters,” said Diane. “But during the wish trip we all got to be together and enjoy the time.”

Mark and Diane have returned to the Village to volunteer – both with WCI and on their own. They feel like helping at the Village is a great way to give back. In fact, they were so moved by their experience in 1996, they relocated to Central Florida all the way from San Diego.

Thanks to Mark, Diane and all of the volunteers with WCI, more than 20 service projects were completed at the Village. These projects, whether it’s painting, cleaning, or crafting, improve the experience for families like Mark and Diane’s, and we couldn’t be more grateful.

If you’re an Alumni Family, we’d love to see you back at the Village making more magic for families like yours. To set up a volunteer shift, contact Volunteer Services at volunteer@gktw.org and let them know that you’re an Alumni Family.

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If you’re looking for a great team builder for your company or organization, volunteering at Give Kids The World is a fun way to give back to children and families battling critical illness. To set up a volunteer experience, give us a call at (407)-396-1114.