November Chapter Meeting: Give Kids the World

NOVEMBER CHAPTER MEETING:
MPI-GOA and GKTW – A Winning Re-match!
By Karen Peterson, CMP, and Terry Matthews-Lombardo, CMP
 

It was an early morning commitment on Thursday, November 19, for more than 50 dedicated MPI members, but by all accounts well worth the extra effort once they saw the faces of the special guests they were serving at the (Hospitality House) in Give Kids the World Village.

For several hours that morning, as family after family made their way into the restaurant, chapter members had the honor and privilege of serving them breakfast with a smile, as well as assisting in starting their day off a little happier than normal thanks to the generosity of all those who donate to make GKTW the incredible temporary "Utopia" that it is. Children with life-threatening illnesses and their families come from all over the world and are welcomed with open arms and hearts for week-long visits to this very special place that MPI is proud to have been affiliated with for more than 20 years.

GOAMPI VP of Membership Karen Kuzsel summed up her experience: “The fact that more than 50 members and guests turned out to volunteer time at GKTW just shows that GOAMPI believes in giving back to the community. This was one of the best events I've participated in. How could your heart not be touched by these precious children fighting for their lives on a daily basis, and their loving families along for the emotional roller coaster? I hope we do this event again.”

It should also be noted that historically, GKTW was the first national charity for MPI to adopt (see accompanying story, “My Friend Henri”), and here in Orlando, our local chapter has been honored to walk this incredible journey of volunteer service with the special people at GKTW on many occasions. This past November was our chapter’s most recent opportunity to work in the Village, and as always, participating members came away with a renewed sense of compassion and possibly a chunk of their hearts missing after sharing the morning breakfast time with GKTW guests. Assisted by Clayton, The Village Mayor, GOAMPI members worked together (for over three hours) to serve both food and smiles. Following the breakfast, Caroline Schumacher, Director of Corporate Development, gave an update on projects in GKTW village and how they work with the community and corporations in their outreach programs. Members also got a special tour of the village. 

The overall experience was summed up quite well in the words of chapter member, Stacey Mantzaris, “What an amazing experience! The kids and their families are dealing with so much, yet GKTW is one of the happiest places on earth. Volunteering was a wonderful experience for me personally  I left the day energized, thankful for the opportunity to work with wonderful GOMPI members committed to giving back to our community, and truly touched by the children and their families whom I encountered on my visit.”

In a month where gratitude is front-and-center for everyone, participating in MPI’s volunteer event at Give Kids The World was the perfect choice for a November chapter event.

 
Nadine Love, from ME Productions, and Karen Peterson, CMP, spearheaded the event; and Terry Matthews-Lombardo, CMP, wrote the article. Karen and Terry are both Founding Members and Past Presidents of MPI-GOA. Both have also served in numerous capacities for the Orlando Chapter as well as in national MPI positions, and are  veteran independent planners representing a variety of corporate and incentive clients.