In June of 2021 I was given the opportunity from Bob Pennington (Vice President of The Dream Factory KC chapter) to travel to Florida to document the first ever week for The Dream Factory to visit Give Kids The World Village. Within this week we got to experience what it is like for families to visit the village and all of the wonderful things that are provided for them while they are staying there. We were joined by Lisa McIntire (President of The Dream Factory KC chapter), Tommy Kendall (Director of Program Services of The Dream Factory Kentucky chapter), many others from various chapters across the country, as well as Mike McKenzie (National Director/CEO of The Dream Factory).
That week was an eye opening experience of emotions, learning, contribution and the reminder of being humble toward one another because we do not know what goes on in the daily life of so many individuals. I went into this project not knowing the impact that it would have on me as a person and even more as a cinematographer, but knowing that my creative mind had been given a pallet of powerful moments that I fused together to make a visual understanding of what humanity is all about is a blessing.
I urge anyone to take the time and watch the video I put together with the help of my good friends and business partners Joe Ruhlman and Allen Hickmon who had came along to witness this whole experience as well. It is a deep overview of how I perceived my time there and it still doesn’t grasp the entire emotional impact this place offers.
I am extremely thankful to have been chosen to take this project on and I want to thank every person at the village that was beyond generous and helpful for making our time down there one of the best hospitable customer service experiences I have been given. Huge thanks go to Pamela Landwirth (President & CEO of GKTW), Theresa Price (Executive Assistant), Amy McClintock (Senior Director Guest Experience) and of course Tami O’Brien (Volunteer Coordinator).