Kidd’s Kids depart for Disney dream vacation

(Dallas – November 9, 2012) More than 50 terminally/chronically ill and physically challenged children and their families headed to Walt Disney World yesterday for the 21^st annual Kidd’s Kids trip.

Hosted by nationally syndicated radio and television personality Kidd Kraddick, this all-expenses-paid “trip of a lifetime” was made possible by the generosity of several corporate partners and loyal fans of the Kidd Kraddick in the Morning radio program.

“I can’t wait to meet all of these beautiful boys and girls and see their faces light up when they board that Southwest Airlines jet,” said Kraddick prior to their departure.  “Then, when they first set foot in Disney World, well, it just moves your soul.  There’s nothing I could ever compare to the satisfaction we all get from offering this experience to those wonderful kids and their families.”

On Wednesday, October 17^th, more than $533,000 was raised from Kidd Kraddick in the Morning show listeners during the annual Kidd’s Kids Day fundraising campaign, to help pay for this year’s trip.  In addition, several corporate partners have stepped in to provide additional funding and/or defray costs for the dream vacation, a program of the Kraddick Foundation. 

During the Kidd’s Kids trip – scheduled for November 8-12 – the 52 selected children and their families will enjoy all the excitement that a Walt Disney World/Kidd’s Kids getaway can offer.  For many families with terminally/chronically ill or physically challenged children, this is a rare opportunity to escape hospitals and treatment centers and share laughter and fun in a magical environment.

The excitement began Thursday morning as participating families arrived at the Southwest Airlines hanger at Dallas Love Field.  They were greeted by the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders prior to boarding their charter flight for a noon departure, along with the supporting medical staff and the Kidd Kraddick in the Morning crew.  Kidd’s Kids families from other areas of the country converged in Orlando on Thursday afternoon, and the entire group proceeded to the Disney Swan Hotel.

That evening, everyone attended a special welcome dinner featuring Kraddick, special Disney entertainment and a surprise gift presentation by Raising Cane’s founder and CEO Todd Graves.  Throughout this weekend, the Kidd’s Kids will be treated to private meals with their favorite Disney characters and escorted to a series of shows at the various Disney parks.

Corporate partners of the 2012 Kidd’s Kids trip are Southwest Airlines, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, Consolidated Restaurants (Cantina Laredo, El Chico, III Forks), Eye Pieces – Plano, Walt Disney World Broadcast and Events Groups, The Swan and Dolphin Hotels, Hawk Electronics, the Transportation Security Administration, Orlando Magic, Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, Fun Factory Events, Ultimate Cupcake, Diamond Business Solutions, Atlas Van Lines, Mears Transportation/Hello Florida and Advanced AeroMedical.  Kidd Kraddick’s affiliate markets and stations across the country likewise pitched in to support the program.

Children selected for the trip are between the ages of 5 and 12, suffer from a chronic or terminal illness, are physically challenged and/or have a catastrophic impairment due to an injury or accident. A panel of doctors and nurses studies every application and has the unenviable task of choosing each year’s Kidd’s Kids.  The panel makes certain that the children won’t have their health affected by a five-day trip with other families and a park full of strangers. The children must reside in the Kidd Kraddick in the Morning radio listening area, be able to appreciate the trip, and demonstrate a financialneed.

Kidd Kraddick in the Morning is a syndicated morning radio show that can be heard on more than 75 stations across the country, and on American Forces Radio, from 6:00 AM to 10 AM CST.  Kraddick and his team are also featured on the nationally syndicated television entertainment program Dish Nation.

For more information on Kidd’s Kids, visit KiddsKids.com, or follow the charity on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/KiddsKids) and Twitter (www.Twitter.com/KiddsKids).

Submitted by Ladd Biro, Champion Management. Photos by Randy Peterson.

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