The Margaritaville Store inside Margaritaville Resort Orlando, a Davidson Hospitality Group property, makes “singing for change” easy for guests with a range of custom products in the shop that benefit the nonprofit, Give Kids The World (GKTW).
The store introduced keepsake pins in partnership with Impulse Souvenirs and GKTW that serve as a token of gratitude for supporting the charitable organization. They’re also a conversation starter to grow awareness for GKTW.
GKTW is a whimsical non-profit resort in Kissimmee, Florida, that treats critically ill children and their families to weeklong, cost-free vacations at an 89-acre storybook-themed wonderland. It’s all inclusive and works closely with organizations such as Make-A-Wish, explains William Hill, store retail manager.
GKTW is the official Margaritaville Singing for Change initiative, a movement the late Jimmy Buffett started in which half of concert proceeds were donated to local charities in the communities where he performed.
The efforts at The Margaritaville Store are one way the initiative lives on.
While guests nosh on Cheeseburgers in Paradise and lounge by the pool with Boat Drinks, a stop into the store offers an opportunity to shop for gifts that benefit the cause.
“Margaritaville is all about creating and delivering fun and escapism, which is what GKTW does every day for wish families who visit, so it has been a natural partnership from the start,” adds Amanda Sykes, head of Margaritaville Cares, a program that fosters the wellbeing of staff, guests and community. She notes the resort’s varied involvement, from donations to volunteering. “GKTW makes it easy and rewarding for individuals, groups and companies to get involved and make an instant impact.”
When designing the pin, Impulse Souvenirs and Margaritaville worked with GKTW to create a symbolic souvenir. The letters GKTW are in the nonprofit’s signature purple. The Margaritaville signature saltshaker “sprinkles” its brand colors on hearts.
Hill says since rolling out the pins last July, the store has sold hundreds of them. This, combined with other store initiatives, has a marked impact on the nonprofit.
Sykes says, “Margaritaville Resort Orlando’s support of GKTW makes waves of positive impact, but ultimately it brings awareness to GKTW and the magical experiences they provide.
From a brand level, the resort has also supported GKTW Village through service projects, leadership training and donations. “We’ve been fortunate to collaborate with different partners that have supported GKTW for decades, and that has allowed our relationship with the non-profit to grow even stronger,” Sykes says.
