IMA 2017 Charity Campaign
We partnered with Give Kids The World, Inc (GKTW) as the 2017 Summit philanthropic initiative.
IMA Summit attendees helped fulfill dreams by volunteering at Give Kids the World during this year’s 2017 IMA Summit.
Give Kids The World (GKTW) is a nonprofit
organization that exists only to fulfill the wishes of all children with
life-threatening illnesses. Children and their families, from around
the world, have the opportunity to experience a memorable, joyful,
cost-free visit to Central Florida’s attractions, and to enjoy the magic
of Give Kids The World Village for as long as there is a need.
Give Kids the World Village is a
79-acre, nonprofit “storybook” resort in Orlando. The Village and its
community partners provide children and their families accommodations in
fully-furnished villas, transportation, tickets to theme parks, meals,
daily entertainment and much more.
The story of
Give Kids The World begins in 1986 with a little girl with a wish and
the desire of one man to make that wish come true. The little girl’s
name was Amy. Amy had leukemia and one wish - to visit the theme parks
in Orlando. To facilitate Amy’s wish, the request of a complimentary
stay was made to a respected hotelier. As he had done many times before,
the hotelier gladly obliged and Amy’s wish was that much closer to
being realized. Sadly, the remainder of Amy’s travel plans took too long
to arrange and her wish was never granted; Amy had passed away. Time
simply ran out.
This
unfulfilled wish inspired a man, the hotelier, to make a vow that no
child in need would ever be failed again. That man was Henri Landwirth
and his desire to ensure that Amy’s story would never repeat itself is
where the story of Give Kids The World begins. Since 1986, more than
150,000 children and families have had their dreams fulfilled in a
whimsical Village unlike any other place on earth.
Thank you to the following IMA members for supporting this year’s charity:
Diamond:
Great Lakes Scrip
Platinum:
Hotels.com
RPG Global
Gold:
Incentive Concepts
Silver:
Incentive USA
Hallmark Business Connections
Red Robin
Augeo Marketing
National Gift Card
TJX Incentive Sales, Inc.
Home Chef
Gift Card Partners
The Cheesecake Factory
CVS/Pharmacy
Rebekka Rea
Richard Rubin
Agnes Fasano
Keith Sorrels
Charity on Top
Deborah Bertram
Bronze:
Brenda Gilpatrick
Sara Staats
Alicia Walters
The 2017 Summit Philanthropy Taskforce consists of the following IMA members:
Andy Choi, The Walt Disney Company
Benita Johnson, Chair, Meijer
Carol Rampey, Unitedscrip, Inc.
Constance Hoffman, Stoner Bunting
Jody Running, CPIM, Top Brands, Inc.
Katie Dougherty, DineEquity, Inc. (Applebee's & IHOP)
Kim Damato, The Manna Group Scrip Company
Lauren Loudenslagel, RPG Card Services
Len Sadek, Landry’s Inc.
Martha Weaver, Raise.Com
Vohara Gunaratna, Buyatab Online, Inc.
Wendy Miller, Propelr