A few weeks ago, I highlighted A Comp Laude Overview (June 2018) and the efforts of WorkCompCentral to recognize service and excellence in workers' compensation. And I stressed that workers' compensation is a "community." I mentioned in that post that my voice recognition software insists on typing "comp loudly" when I say "Comp Laude." In that regard, technology remains a challenge, and I am sure others experience similar tech issues.
Though I am a perennial attendee at WCI each August (having missed twice in about 25 years), and though the WCI started sponsoring "volunteer work days" at Give Kids the World (GKTW) several years ago, I never made it to GKTW. Until yesterday that is. I had heard about it, repeatedly, from many people and perspectives, but I had not been there. To a person, everyone that attends raves about their fulfillment from spending time there. In addition to the work day, each year the WCI also sponsors a GKTW Gala to raise financial donations.
GKTW is a Village developed by Henri Landwirth, a holocaust survivor. Decades ago, he learned about kids who came to Orlando for their wish trip, through organizations like Make a Wish. He heard that accommodations were an obstacle to such trips. He therefore built his first duplex (called "villas"). Then he built another, then another, and now it is an 84-acre resort with 168 villas. This is where kids fighting for their lives come to escape, however briefly, their challenges.
Their motto? Turn no child away. These people find a way to accommodate every family that wants to come. If no villa is available, they have deals with a number of local hotels to accommodate the overflow. They take care of families that struggle, whatever that takes. Children, as Mr. Landwirth says, who "had something happen to their systems." These kids are ill, or they have a sibling who is, and they come to GKTW to escape, eat ice cream for breakfast, ride horses, and more.
Remember in the old days (1970s) a football player known as "Mean Joe Green" starred in a "Coke and a Smile" ad that featured a young fan? In it, Joe Green limps toward the locker room and is stopped by a young man. The boy asks "Do you need any help?" Joe declines. The boy offers Joe: "Want my coke? It's O.K. you can have it" (holding the coke toward Joe). It is a heartwarming moment. Hold that image (below) for a minute, I'll get back to it.
We had heard earlier in the week that over 1,000 people had volunteered for the 2018 Give Kids' the World (GKTW) workday. Saturday morning I entered the continental breakfast hall at the Marriott, swimming through a sea of people. Many had matching shirts (different companies provide t-shirts for their GKTW teams). Over here was Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, over there was the McConnaughhay firm, here was Orchid Medical, and seemingly everywhere was Sedgwick and Gallagher Basset.
Our leader for the day was Doug Clark, of Sedgwick. He was the cheerleader and organizer, the director of a huge cast, and a complex play. It was an Oscar-worthy performance. I complimented him later in the day, and he emphasized that it was a team effort. He was humble and gracious, characteristics I value in a team member.
We deployed in groups, with preassigned tasks. There were gutters to clean, posts to paint, furniture to clean, sidewalks to pressure wash, plants to plant, mulch to spread, trash to haul, pillows to assemble, shuttles to operate, and even a carousel to staff. I am sure that is not an exhaustive list, but it is a start. The logistics were fantastic. They were ready for us when we arrived, and they supported us throughout (water deliveries, equipment, safety goggles, gloves, sunscreen, you name it).
I was assigned to a pressure washing team, two of us taking turns with a washer. That led to significant downtime, during which I carried some mulch, guzzled water, and took some pictures. And, as we worked, there were guest families among us, or passing by us. No pictures of the Village guests are allowed, but remember the picture above of Mean Joe Green?
At one point, I turned from my work to see a mulch volunteer in front of a villa confronted by a young child guest. This tike wore a "Make a Wish" shirt and held out a large glass of water to the volunteer. I instantly recalled the Joe Green Commercial. I don't know if that child is ill, or has a family member who is. I just know that kid recognized people were working hard, he appreciated it, and he stepped up with a thank you. It was fleeting, genuine, and touching. It will remain forever seared into my memory. He is why we were there, and yet he wanted to help us.
We gathered for a group photo when we finished.
We learned that the volunteer total for the day had exceeded 1,100. There was no way to fit everyone in a picture. We returned to the conference, exhausted and hungry.
Last night, I attended the Gala, courtesy of the National Association of Workers' Compensation Judiciary. It is a Gala sponsor and therefore received some tickets. There, we were reminded that the WCI has donated over $200,000 to GKTW over the last 5 years. Then we were informed that the 2018 Gala would raise more than $100,000 more. That is in one night, a significant impact. It is due in large part to various sponsors committing to the cause.
We heard from Doug Clark (our cheerleader and organizer), explaining that 187 companies had participated at the Village that day. I am proud of them all. However, I am particularly proud of the Kids' Chance of Florida team. We were over 40 strong, wearing matching t-shirts proclaiming "I'm helping Kids' Chance of Florida help Give Kids' the World." A catchy phrase compliments of the Kids' Chance of Florida president, Bob Wilson. Think on that. Yesterday 1,100 people, representing 187 companies, gathered to provide service to the benefit of kids and their families. That is community.
At the Gala, we also heard from Diane and Jim McClusky. These two have led the Gala charge for WCI. I cannot fathom the hours these two have invested in supporting GKTW. It is in large part their success that we celebrated as they announced over 800 people attended the Gala. We heard from Pam Landwirth, who showed us a video of Henry. The interview described why he founded the Village and why it is so crucial. She read a letter from a family, describing their wonderful week, and the memories it built. I suspect that there were only a few dry eyes in the room when she finished.
We heard from a mother, with her leukemia-survivor son standing next to her (barely visible because of the podium, a small child). She described the challenge of these diagnoses and the impact on the family. Her story was poignant for me. It made me recall a good friend, Steve, that I had not thought of in years. I recall our mutual interests and friendship. I remember grass sledding on boxes (yes that's a real thing), tether ball, and four square. I also remember we were about 6 then, and Steve's little sister of about 3 was fighting leukemia. I watched that family contend with disease, a concept that I frankly did not understand at 6. I still remember when she passed, my first realization was that dying was not just for old people.
This GKTW mother talked about what families experience. She described the many doctor visits, the treatments, and the challenges. She talked about the contributions of her neighbors, pitching in with child care and so much more as she devoted years to her son's recovery. She was emotional, inspiring, and real. I struggled to focus on her story, but my thoughts kept returning to my own recollections of Steve and his sister. Her description of what GKTW meant to her family, and others she knows, was outstanding and touching.
WCI impacted GKTW yesterday, again. A crowd of people, old and young, tall and short, fit and frail worked, contributed, and supported. The money will benefit GKTW, and there is value in that. But, I would contend that the greater value is in the community. Eleven hundred workers' compensation people found a commonality Saturday; "community." There was camaraderie, contribution, work, laughter, and conversation; "community." WCI brings us together each August to learn and teach. But for the last 8 years it has also brought us together in community. We are greater, if only for a moment, than the sum of our parts. We are incredible, and powerful, and kind to each other; "community."
I am proud beyond description of the 1,100 volunteers, particularly Doug Clark, Diane, and Jim McClusky. I acknowledge that this is a team effort, and thank all the volunteers, but cannot name them all. I am proud of who we are and what we did. I am grateful for the reminder of our humanity, our energy, and our community.
Below are additional shots of volunteers at GKTW. They don't do it justice. You sort of have to be there to get it. As I conclude this post, I figured out that my dictation software is correct after all, it is "comp loudly," and our community supported that yesterday. Comp shouted yesterday that we can be together; we can set aside professions, competition, and disputes for a day and our community can rally to a common cause. Thank you GKTW, WCI, volunteers, and organizers. You made us better yesterday. See you next year!
