John Stamos Helps Give Kids The World Celebrate 20 Years of Fulfilling Wishes for Children With Life-Threatening Illnesses

John Stamos Helps Give Kids The World Celebrate 20 Years of Fulfilling Wishes for Children With Life-Threatening Illnesses

Wish Children From All 50 States, Canada and England to Be in Attendance

ORLANDO, Fla., March 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Television and Broadway star John Stamos was in attendance on March 6-7, 2006 to help Give Kids The World (GKTW) celebrate 20 years of creating laughter and inspiring hope for children suffering from life-threatening illnesses.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060307/FLTU021 )

Stamos, who has been a longtime friend of the Village, adds excitement for the children who will be experiencing a calendar full of special events. On March 6, Stamos, along with Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, Humanitarian Award winner, and GKTW founder Henri Landwirth, will join Wish children from all 50 states, Canada and England in the "Share a Dream Come True" parade at the Magic Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

On March 7, Stamos helps GKTW unveil a Guinness World Record for the World's Largest Gingerbread Man at Give Kids The World Village. Created in conjunction with Universal Orlando, the gingerbread man is expected to be over 15 feet tall, weigh 1000 pounds and have over 200 pounds of frosting.

Stamos joins the children and their families on March 7, as they play the World's Largest CANDY LAND(R) game in conjunction with Hasbro, Inc., who has announced that they will create a one-of-a-kind version of their famous CANDY LAND(R) game based on Give Kids The World Village. This limited edition game will be available only through Give Kids The World.

The organization's 20th anniversary will highlight a property expansion project of Give Kids The World Village that will more than double its capacity of family villas from 96 to 240. This is a major step in achieving its mission to fulfill the wishes of all children with life-threatening illnesses and their families from around the world, whose one wish is to visit the Central Florida attractions.

Currently GKTW has 130 employees, over 3500 volunteers, and partners with about 150 corporate heroes and 250 wish granting organizations. Perkins Family Restaurant & Bakery, Proctor & Gamble, SeaWorld Orlando, Universal Orlando, Wal-Mart and Walt Disney World are a few of the organization's biggest supporters.

"We continue to grow because of everyone who works with us. I have a deep admiration and affection for each of our supporters who have donated so much over the years, from landscaping, to construction, to the millions of dollars in services they offer to our children and families," said Henri Landwirth, founder, Give Kids The World. "Without them, ventures such as our property expansion would not be possible. We are grateful for our past, current and future donors who are looking to help, including those who are supporting our current expansion initiative."

ABOUT GIVE KIDS THE WORLD

Give Kids The World Village is a 70-acre, nonprofit resort that creates magical memories and fulfills wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. GKTW provides accommodations at its whimsical resort, donated attractions tickets, meals and more for a week-long fantasy vacation. With the help of many generous individuals, corporations, and partnering wish granting organizations, Give Kids The World has welcomed nearly 75,000 families from all 50 states and 53 countries.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060307/FLTU021
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Give Kids The World

CONTACT: Tina Lokodjian, +1-407-396-1114, ext. 230, or TinaL@gktw.org,
or Christian Cascone, +1-407-396-1114, or ChristianC@gktw.org, both of Give
Kids The World; or Dana Johnson of Curly & Pynn, +1-407-423-8006, or
DJohnson@TheStrategicFirm.com, for Give Kids The World

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