Yesterday my niece, Morgan, shared a video on Facebook that got me thinking. You’ve probably seen it…the video shows a young daughter serenading her mother who is battling stage 4 breast cancer. Ellen DeGeneres had the little girl and her mother on her show and she once more sang to her, but this time with the help of country singer Martina McBride. If you haven’t seen it yet, click here to watch, but be sure to grab a tissue first.

Watching this video, reminded me just how lucky I am. Last week, I was in Disney World with my two boys, enjoying a fun-filled week. Like every Disney vacation, the three of us laughed, played, and made memories to last a lifetime. Isn’t that what Disney is really all about? It isn’t about how many attractions we see or everything we eat, it’s about those little moments…hearing the sounds of laughter from families having fun together, smelling the popcorn when you walk in Magic Kingdom, tasting the sweetness of a treat from The Confectionary, seeing the fireworks bursting over Cinderella Castle as you ride Big Thunder Mountain, and feeling the warmth of your children as they rest their tired heads on your shoulders after a day filled with joy. It’s those fleeting moments that are truly the heart of Disney.

Polly’s Place

In 2008, my dear friend Polly lost her long and hard-fought battle with cancer. Two weeks before she died, she was planning a final getaway with her husband and two young children to Walt Disney World; it was the last thing we spoke about before she passed away. Despite everything that she went through, she always had a positive attitude. Her strength and determination are still a daily inspiration to me. To honor her memory, I’ve created a  Charity Page called “Polly’s Place” to celebrate her life and giving spirit. A fellow Disney fan, Polly was a beautiful person inside and out; filled with kindness and compassion. “Polly’s Place” features two causes that were always close to her heart – children and animals.

Give Kids The World

Give Kids The World works with wish granting organizations to provide week-long Central Florida vacations to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families free of charge. Through generous donations and hard-working volunteers, Give Kids The World has welcomed more than 138,000 families from over 75 countries around the world. These families are given a place to stay in the Give The Kids The World Village, donated theme park tickets to Walt Disney World, Sea World and Universal Studios, meals, transportation and more. To support this outstanding organization or for more information, please check out their website by clicking here.

“Must Do Disney” Stacey Aswad’s Animal Charity Work

Frequent visitors will recognize Stacey from the fantastic resort TV campaign “Must Do Disney” where Stacey shares with guests all the best things to see and do in Walt Disney World. But what you may not know about Stacey is that she is a huge animal lover and advocate passionate about ending animal cruelty and homelessness. Stacey sells autographed photos for a $20 donation that she in turn gives to a variety of animal charities and rescue organizations working to save animals around the world each and every day. To support Stacey’s charitable work or for more information, please check out her website by clicking here.

Forever in my heart – ’til we meet again…