Commercial Construction & Renovation helps our subscribers design, build and maintain better commercial facilities by delivering content to meet the information needs of today's high-level executives.
Issue link: https://ccr-mag.epubxp.com/i/258445
The relationship between Wyndham Vacation Ownership (WVO) and Give Kids The World (GKTW) is a story of children, commitment and integrity – one that is bound to last for years to come. Give Kids The World is a 70-acre, non-proft resort in central Florida that creates magical memories for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. GKTW provides accommodations at its whimsical resort, donated attractions tickets, meals and more for a weeklong, cost-free fantasy vacation. With the help of many generous individuals, corporations and partnering wish-granting organizations (see sidebar charts), Give Kids The World has welcomed more than 127,000 families from all 50 states and more than 75 countries. The Give Kids The World Village was started in 1989. Many of the villas that house the families 365 days a year were built during those early days. After 25 years of housing children and families every day, these homes were in need of renovation. Having never closed for even one day by choice (the Village was closed on one occasion because of hurricane damage), the charity's leadership set forth on a plan to renovate the nearly 100 villas that needed upgrading over a period of months and years. That's when Gary Rall, VP of Resort Renovation and Design at Wyndham Vacation Ownership, encouraged his organization to get involved. Taking an active role in the GKTW "Adopt-A-Villa" program, Wyndham already had taken a leadership role in renovating structures that needed attention. It was then that the magic happened. Rall was having dinner with his family and telling them about the GKTW project when his son, Zach, asked, "Dad, isn't renovating properties what you do at Wyndham? How many renovations do you do every year at work?" When Rall answered the number was in the thousands, his son queried, "Well, can't you renovate 100 villas in one week for Give Kids The World?" It didn't take long before Rall presented his son's idea of renovating the remaining The relationship between Wyndham Vacation Ownership (WVO) and Give Kids The World (GKTW) is a story of children, commitment and integrity – one that is bound to last for years to come. 14 CommerCial ConstruCtion & renovation — January : February 2014 iNdustry News industry news For the kids CCr annual Summit helps produce beautiful partnership T he Commercial Construction & Renovation Annual Summit always seems to produce interesting partnerships, great ideas and the sharing of best practices. All three were on display at the 2013 Summit, including a partnership that paired a leading commercial construction and renovation frm with one of the fnest charities found anywhere. CCR-JanFeb.14_991-.indd 14 2/7/14 2:01 PM