Page 14 - Mobility Management, April 2017

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Giving Kids Hope for 30 Years
Henri Landwirth, founder of the Give Kids the World non-profit resort, knows what it’s like to live with fear. Born in Belgium, he was imprisoned in Nazi concentra- tion camps, including Auschwitz, from age 13 till 18. His parents were killed in the Holocaust.
After immigrating to America and serving in the U.S. Army, Landwirth went to school and began working in an American hotel. The hotel industry became his career, and years later, he was asked if he could provide free accommodations for a girl named Amy and her family.
Amy, who had leukemia, longed to visit Walt Disney World. Landwirth happily offered accommodations. But the rest of the trip took too long to plan, and Amy died without seeing Disney World. Landwirth was determined to make sure that would never happen to another child.
In 1986, he founded Give Kids the World (GKTW) in Kissimmee, Fla., to house, feed, entertain and lift up children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. The free weeklong vacations include travel arrange- ments, theme park tickets, meals and accommodations in suburban-style houses with rocking chairs on their porches. On-site entertainment includes movies, rides, miniature golf and visits from theme park characters.
When Numotion arrived on a balmy January morning for its annual service project, GKTW’s ice cream parlor was already serving young customers — doors open at 7:30 a.m. so kids can have sundaes for breakfast. The dining hall, where breakfast was underway, smelled scrumptiously of vanilla.
“We offer a full buffet,” explained a staffer, “but mostly people just eat the waffles.”
Around 350 Numotion staff spent the morning working at the resort. They painted a mural and built a bridge
to the resort’s chapel. They did yardwork and cleaned porches. They made light sabers and pompoms for the resort’s nightly parties (GKTW celebrates holidays such as Christmas and Halloween every week, all year long).
And Numotion hosted a party for GKTW guests, with carnival-style games, cookie decorating and crafts.
A GKTW spokesperson noted that Numotion volunteers did the equivalent of seven weeks’ volunteer work in a single morning.
In its first 30 years, GKTW has served more than 150,000 children and families living with life-threatening illnesses. For more information or volunteer opportunities, visit gktw.org. l
Numotion’s Mission Possible
Broda Seating highlighted the importance of optimal posi- tioning on multiple surfaces during the day.
Numotion remem- bered clients and colleagues who have passed away.
Inspired by Drive’s Nessie is a fun way to practice positioning.
Numotion is
the exclusive American distributor of ergonomic RibGrips handrims.
14 april 2017 | mobilitymanagement
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