Bob Welbaum: NFFC Raises Funds For Give Kids the World
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One true highlight of recent NFFC conventions has become the Part of Your World dinner, a special event where conventioneers get an opportunity to dine with Disney celebrities. The most recent dinner was at the NFFC�s Florida Convention 2008, held October 3-5 at the Regal Sun Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. This event was doubly special because it was dedicated to benefit Give Kids the World, the Florida charity the NFFC supports.

Give Kids The World (GKTW) is a non-profit organization located near Orlando, Florida, that creates magical memories for children with life-threatening illnesses. The organization operates the GKTW Village, a 70-acre resort that provides accommodations for the children and their families, donated attraction tickets, meals and more for a week-long cost-free fantasy vacation.

The idea of using the convention�s Part of Your World dinners as charity fundraisers began at the NFFC�s California Convention, held July 15-20, 2008 at the Crowne Plaza Resort in Garden Grove, California. Then the beneficiary was Ryman Arts, the NFFC�s West-Coast charity.

This dinner, held the evening of October 3, began with a pair of videos. First was a clip about GKTW lasting approximately eight minutes. The opening segment was about the children themselves (�Kids Rule!�), who in their own words introduced the activities available to them at the GKTW Village. The second segment was more serious and provided their parents� view: �Time is the one gift our kids don�t have.� The second video showcased the abilities of performance artist Trevor Carlton, who had generously donated two of his works to be auctioned at the end of the evening. Mr. Carlton had originally intended to be present, but was caught in a last-minute conflict.

Also appearing were Mickey and Minnie, suitably attired for the convention�s �Florida Adventurer� theme as they posed for photographs with dinner attendees against a jungle backdrop.

Disney VIP celebrities who dined with attendees each introduced themselves, then drew their table numbers. In attendance were former press agent, author and NFFC Legend Charlie Ridgway; former Vice President of Walt Disney World�s Magic Kingdom and NFFC Legend Bill Sullivan; former animator, special-effects artist, story man, producer, and NFFC Legend Joe Hale; The Walt Disney Company�s archivist, author, and NFFC Legend Dave Smith; Disneyland�s original Tom Sawyer, manager, and NFFC Legend Tom Nabbe; Walt Disney World�s current Vice President for the Magic Kingdom Phil Holmes; Walt Disney World merchandise warehouse manager Greg Russ; collectibles expert and public television�s �Antiques Roadshow� appraiser Gary Sohmers; Walt Disney World�s Vice President of Epcot Jim McPhee; Pam Shaw, historian from the town of Celebration, Florida; former Walt Disney World Ambassador Mary Ann Lundy; and acclaimed author Jim Korkis.

Dinner included a citrus-fruit appetizer, tossed salad, entree (surf & turf, chicken, or vegetarian), and a pudding dessert served in a martini glass resting on a banana leaf.

After dinner, John Frost, GKTW�s Individual and Online Giving Manager, gave the gathering a status report. Over 90,000 families have stayed at the Village since its inception, and over 6500 are expected this year. This evening�s contributions will be used to help fund a major expansion, increasing the Village to 146 villas. More specifically, one of those will be a Disney-fan villa, built expressly with funds raised by Disney-related groups. Those funds will include both the proceeds from this dinner and the GKTW exhibit at the convention�s Sunday Show & Sale.

The bulk of the evening�s fund-raising came from a five-lot live auction and a silent auction. But before the live auction began, Charlie Ridgway reminded everyone of the dedication and generosity of GKTW�s founder Henri Landwirth, a Nazi death-camp survivor who parlayed $20 into a hotel empire.

After the live auction, conducted by Greg Denaro with grace and humor, was completed and the silent auction had closed, over $6000 had been raised for Give Kids The World.

For the complete story on Give Kids The World, please visit their website, www.gktw.org. The site includes an on-line Gift Shop. For more information about the NFFC, visit www.nffc.org.