A Reward Greater Than Money

Chad Hostetler always believed in service to the community, but it wasn’t until he began volunteering at Give Kids The World Village, a Central Florida “storybook” resort for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families, that his life took on a new meaning.

The 39-year-old owner of an Orlando design firm said his real paycheck now comes in form of the countless waves, smiles and hugs he receives every week from the families, volunteers and employees of Give Kids The World.

“Happiness is real here,” he says. “It is a tangible thing that you can see and touch and feel. From the moment you come through the gates of the Village you feel like you have just been wrapped in a blanket of joy.”

Chad volunteers weekly at GKTW, completing more than 550 hours of service over the last two years. His roles vary from assisting families at check-in to driving a themed train around the Village to scooping ice cream at the Ice Cream Palace.

No matter what the role, Chad says he can see the direct impact his service has on the lives of the children.

“One of the greatest aspects of the Village is that the diversity of ways in which you can make a difference is eclipsed only by the way in which you can feel the gratitude of your efforts. I have never received a paycheck from an employer or client that even begins to compare with the reward I receive from the reactions of the kids and their families.”