The Rainbow Connection competitive scholarship program awards $1,000 to exceptional wish children as they pursue higher education. Gioia, a 2025 TRC Scholarship Recipient, reflects on her experience since she first met with The Rainbow Connection.

When I was 6 years old, my wish was to go to Disney World. Like any little girl, I dreamed of going to Disney World, and the Rainbow Connection made my dream a reality in more ways than I thought possible. Right off the bat, the experience was incredibly magical. I remember waking up early that morning so excited. When I found out a limo would be driving us to the airport, my excitement continued to build. I felt so special riding in a limo. I loved every second of the drive, bubbling with energy the whole way there. I had traveled a few times before my diagnosis and loved flying. I was so excited to be at the airport again for the first time since getting diagnosed with cancer. Disney was everything I had hoped it would be and more. I had so much fun riding the roller coasters again and again, and I felt so cool with my fast pass. I loved meeting all the characters and getting to have lunch in Cinderella’s castle. Any mention of Disney World still gives me intense feelings of nostalgia and happiness. However, the most memorable part of the trip was getting to stay in Give Kids the World Village. To this day, the
village holds a special place in my heart. I absolutely loved the house my family was assigned to.
I thought it looked like a castle. It was also right across from the Candy Land-themed playground. This meant that at every spare moment, my sister and I would run out and play on the amazing playground. Everything about The Village just made my experience so much more remarkable. Getting ice cream after every meal. Get pampered at Twinkle Hope’s rockin’ spa. I was so excited to take part in the evening activities day after day. Whether that included a pirate princess party, Mayor Clayton’s birthday party, or trick or treating. The volunteers of course, played a big part in helping me enjoy my time there. A memory I have that always makes me smile when I think of it is every night after coming back from the parks, or going out, me and my sister would race back to our house to see what toys the cleaners had left for us. To this day, I still have all the stuffed animals I received during my wish trip. For once, being different was a
good thing, not a bad one.
The impact of The Rainbow Connection and Give Kids The World Village has truly been long-lasting. We have been back to visit The Village several times and have even volunteered a few times. Every time we go back, we make sure to look at my star which represents myself as a visitor of the village. The difficulty of finding my star and seeing the number of stars added every time we go back truly puts into perspective just how many kids are affected by life-altering conditions and diseases. It is heartbreaking, but it certainly reminds me of how lucky I am to be where I am today. It motivates me and my family to give back by volunteering and making donations. We normally volunteer on Christmas or the days surrounding it. We help out in the dining hall during the dinner service by serving the food and bussing tables. It’s not much, but at least we get to interact with the families currently staying there and express our gratitude for everything we were given.

The Rainbow Connection’s impact on my life didn’t end after my wish trip. There were several other events hosted by The Rainbow Connection that I looked forward to year-round. The Christmas party was a big one. Christmas is my favorite holiday and I really looked forward to going to the party in December. I remember having so much fun with the various activities offered there. Another event that I have very fond memories of is the summer picnic. I just loved getting to spend time having fun in the sun with my friends. Running around, playing games, winning prizes, entering raffles, getting my face painted. I would get so excited when these events would roll around, and if, for some reason, we couldn’t make it, I would be heartbroken. I have so many happy memories from these events.

The biggest thing that The Rainbow Connection gave me was community. It provided a time and a place for families with similar circumstances to mine to get together and enjoy time together. My family had met and befriended so many other wonderful families. It is so therapeutic to get to talk to and have fun with other families in similar situations. I always enjoyed hanging out with other cancer patients and survivors. It made me feel less alone which can be the most impactful thing in these situations. During my treatment in the hospital, I met some really great friends of my age who were going through the same thing I was. These friends were so remarkable and meant a lot to me, but unfortunately, we all lived so far away from one another, and especially after treatment ended, we weren’t able to see each other much. Thanks to the events hosted by The Rainbow Connection, for a day, we were all able to come together and spend quality time with one another. My cancer friends are some of my most meaningful friendships, and these events allowed me to keep in touch and make happy memories with them.

The Rainbow Connection has truly done so much for me over the years, and for that, I am eternally grateful. All these events have given me some wonderful and joyful childhood memories tied to my cancer experience. Having cancer is an awful and life-changing thing. However, wonderful organizations like The Rainbow Connection make the experience a little more positive. I don’t know where I would be without the contributions and support of The Rainbow Connection throughout my journey.

Jacob was born in January 2017 and after completing tests at birth, he was diagnosed with Beta Thelasemia Major, a blood disorder. Over the next ten months, Jacob and family went to appointments at Children’s Hospital of Michigan to keep an eye on his hemoglobin. Up until age five, Jacob was able to live a normal life with no hospital visits. Right before his seventh birthday, Jacob’s parents noticed that he wasn’t feeling like himself and took him to the doctor. They were informed that Jacob’s hemoglobin was extremely low and he received his first blood transfusion. From there, Jacob had his spleen removed and has since received multiple blood transfusions each month to keep his hemoglobin at a normal level.

In June 2024, we met Jacob, and he was more than ready for a break. Just two months later, his wish to go to Disney World came true! From limo rides to magical adventures and a private fishing trip in Clearwater Beach, Jacob and his family soaked in every moment. His favorite part? Fishing all day with his sisters!

Jacob is funny, energetic, always smiling and we are honored to have him as the Wish Ambassador for the 2025 Dream Makers Ball!

Allie’s wish to meet the Manchester City soccer team came true!

If you ask Allie what got her through difficult treatments for cancer and hospital stays, she’ll give you one word: Soccer. She played FIFA, watched every Man City soccer game and continued to attend her team’s soccer practices even though she was unable to play, but it kept her motivated in her fight. Right when we met Allie, she knew her wish was to meet Manchester City FC!

We are so happy that Allie’s wish came true earlier this month!! She attended team training and enjoyed the Man City vs. Chelsea Game at Ohio Stadium from a suite. She was able to get autographs and pictures with the players and meet Coach Pep Guardiola, who gave her one of his famous Pep Talks!! She was also a “Player Mascot” and escorted superstar Erling Haaland onto the field before the game.

To put the icing on top of the cake, Allie has officially been cleared to play soccer again this season!! The Rainbow Connection is cheering you on – Go Allie!

HUGE THANK YOUS to SoccerWorld, Manchester City, PUMA and Columbus Crew for all of their help in making Allie’s wish a truly unforgettable experience!

Since being diagnosed with Neuroblastoma at the age of 5, Cora has been dreaming of the day she and her family could escape the hospital visits and enjoy a magical, worry-free adventure at Disney World. Almost two years later, after clear scans, that wish came true last month!! Cora and her family flew to Florida, stayed at Give Kids the World village and made the most of every second of her trip.

Cora’s parents shared the impact of her wish, “Honestly, it was a magical week. We didn’t have to pay for anything, we didn’t have to plan almost anything, and we didn’t have to worry about school, work or medical treatments. It was just a really deep breath of fresh air in what has often felt like drowning over the past two years.”

Cora met Mickey, Minnie and her favorite – Moana! They also drove an hour away for the kids to touch the ocean for the first time right before sunset. Cora was able to celebrate her 7^th birthday on their last full day there by seeing the fireworks at Magic Kingdom!

“Last year we were in the most difficult part of our journey during stem cell treatment and we tried our best to have a few cousins and brothers up to celebrate. She doesn’t complain a lot about anything, but she commented multiple times over the past year how much she hated being in the hospital for her birthday. So, to have this magical trip on her birthday could not have felt any more different.”

Please join us in wishing Cora a happy belated 7^th birthday!! We are so happy she got to celebrate in “The Most Magical Place on Earth”!

The Rainbow Connection competitive scholarship program awards $1,000 to exceptional wish children as they pursue higher education. Sydney, a 2023 TRC Scholarship Recipient, reflects on her experience since she first met with The Rainbow Connection.

This past year, I have had a chance to get re-involved with The Rainbow Connection. It is an amazing organization that has been there for me and my family during my treatments and well beyond. Many other organizations were supportive in the moment of most need, but to see an organization still care about me long after my treatments means so much.

During my treatments, Rainbow Connection was the one group that truly gave me and my family hope. My treatments began in 2010 and were hard. I missed most of first grade due to a low immune system. There were days that planning the wish trip were what kept my family (including my older brother) full of hope. We decided on a trip to Disney in February 2012. Finally – the day of the trip arrived. We were picked up at the house in a limo! My brother and I were so excited. We stayed at Give Kids the World Village. As an 8 and 11 year old…we were in heaven! Ice cream whenever we wanted and Candy Land looking buildings with so many activities. I will never forget my Gold Star going on the ceiling in the Castle of Miracles. It was so magical. It brought hope. A little piece of me will always be there. We were able to go to all the parks at Disney, Universal Studios, SeaWorld and even did indoor skydiving! The best part was that we could go on rides as many times as we wanted and got to skip the lines. The Rock-n-Rollercoaster was my favorite ride and I loved meeting all the Disney Princesses. For the first time in a long time – cancer was not the conversation, we laughed as a family with nothing to fear, we had hope. We were a normal family. Rainbow Connection granting my wish will forever provide some of our greatest memories.

This past year, I was asked to be the Guest Speaker at the 43rd Annual Dobson Open. It was 9 years after attending the 32nd Annual Dobson Open as the honorary wish child. I shared my story with the audience, got to see and meet the 4,000th Rainbow Connection wish child and experience the gracious donors that provide such amazing experiences for all of the wish children like myself. It was a wonderful night.

I was also the proud recipient of The Rainbow Connection Scholarship last year. The scholarship award breakfast was very special. Seeing and hearing the stories of the 19 other recipients was very special. All of us had different health care battles but they have made us all amazing survivors who are determined to change the world and were so appreciative of our Rainbow Connection “connection”.

I am currently in my second semester of college at Hope College. I was recently officially admitted to the Nursing Program and am one step closer to my dream of becoming a Pediatric Oncology Nurse. The Rainbow Connection has helped me during the most difficult time of my life giving me and my family hope and is still here with me today helping me achieve my dreams.

We are very excited to continue to support Sydney through her education and wish her, along with our other recipients, the best of luck in their academic year!

Meet 4-year old, Jake! Jake was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in April 2021 and has been on quite the journey since his diagnosis. Jake and his family were originally scheduled to embark on his Wish Trip in November 2022, but due to a relapse, the trip needed to be postponed. After undergoing a second bone marrow transplant using his mom’s stem cell donation (she was a perfect match!), and additional chemo, Jake FINALLY got to enjoy his trip to Disney World in May 2023!

When asked what his favorite part of the trip was, Jake said, “The entire trip! I can’t just pick one thing!”

Jake and his siblings absolutely loved the pool at GKTW, the ride Soarin, Guardians of the Galaxy at Epcot, meeting Ana and Elsa, and collecting sea shells at Cocoa Beach! However, getting ice cream any time they wanted was definitely at the top of list! So much so that Jake named his ice cream “The Official Jake.” It was chocolate ice cream topped with nerds, whipped cream, M&M’s, and sprinkles – YUM! Another highlight of Jake’s wish trip is that it was a total SURPRISE!!! Jake and his sister did not know they were heading to Disney World until the night before – best surprise ever!!

Jake’s mom shared that “This experience meant everything. Jake has not been able to be a normal kid or do normal kid things for over two years” and “It was our very first family vacation ever and we had the time of our lives. It was the perfect week.” Jake is still in maintenance treatment, but continues to get stronger each and every day! We are so glad that Jake and his family enjoyed their trip to Disney World and have this “perfect week” to cherish for the rest of their lives!

 Wish Child, Ashton, was diagnosed with cancer in December 2021, at just 3 years old. After multiple rounds of chemotherapy, he completed treatment in June of 2022 and then had his port removed 6 months later! Now, a few months away from turning 5, Ashton is healthy, happy and getting stronger every day!!

This past February, Ashton got to travel to Disney World and Give Kids the World (GKTW) with his mother and grandparents and they had a BLAST! This trip was much needed and well deserved as Ashton had to stay isolated during his treatment course – thus making this trip something huge to look forward to!

Ashton especially loved Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom where he was able to meet Mickey Mouse! Overall, Ashton’s favorite part of his trip was exploring all that GKTW has to offer! His grandmother shared: “I honestly cannot express how amazing GKTW has been. It has been awesome seeing him be a kid and out of his bubble.” Ashton and his grandparents loved GKTW so much that they went back in March for an alumni visit!!

We are so happy for Ashton and his family to have experienced the pure joy and happiness that a wish can provide and we are so excited that they have these memories to reflect on forever!!

Ava is a special and brave young girl. At just 13 years old, she has endured more than most people experience in a lifetime. In May 2019, Ava was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor and has undergone endless bouts of chemo and radiation, surgeries, scans, and hospital visits ever since. However, this has not stopped Ava from wishing, hoping and enjoying life!

Ava loves art, Disney movies, soccer, basketball – she is very athletic – and her favorite color is blue. When it came to her Wish, Ava saw pictures of the crystal clear water and beautiful beaches and immediately knew she wanted to go to Maui, Hawaii. Oh what a time she had! Ava was most excited to relax on the beach and just take in the beauty of the island with her family. She was also able to partake in a boat excursion to snorkel in the open water! Ava and her family visited the Maui Ocean Center, drove the Road to Hana and explored waterfalls. It was a magical, magical trip for Ava and her family!

The best part about this trip, for them, was just being able to spend quality time together as a family without having to think about the hospital, upcoming appointments, blood draws, or surgeries. This is what matters most about a Wish Trip –families simply enjoying one another without the thought of the child’s illness. #AvaStrong

Julia from Williamston celebrated her 10^th birthday at the most magical place on earth, Disney World! Julia and her family stayed at Give Kids the World Village, ate ice cream for breakfast and rode every ride that Julia was tall enough to go on!

When Julia was diagnosed in December 2020, a wish gave her family something positive to focus on and dream about. During treatment and doctor visits, Julia looked forward to her wish and it helped her get through many challenges. Her mom says, “Julia experienced so much joy while she was at Disney World. Now, we can always draw upon those memories and find joy when we need it.” We are so glad that Julia was able to spend her wish celebrating and create so many joyful memories with her family!

On Halloween 2021, when Darrian underwent emergency brain surgery after having a stroke, it was hard for his family to envision better days ahead. That’s where The Rainbow Connection stepped in!

Now, just 8 months later, look at Darrian’s smile while he, along with his little brother and parents, took Disney World by storm!! During their weeklong stay in Central Florida, Darrian rode rollercoasters, posed with superheroes, swam in the ocean, and simply got to be a kid again!

The family even had the opportunity to celebrate “Halloween Night” at Give Kids The World Village and everything came full circle! Instead of being stuck in a hospital room during trick or treating, Darrian was gifted a brand new costume and ran around collecting candy, playing games, and laughing the whole time!!

Darrian’s mom shared, “There’s nothing I could say to show my appreciation for our support system and The Rainbow Connection for ensuring our trip was nothing less than perfect.”