Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
By RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com, originally filed Monday, February 23, 2015
Eleven families from around the country left last week for an adventure of a lifetime at Disney World, courtesy of Bert's Big Adventure, the charity arm of radio host Bert Weiss and his wife Stacey.
Despite their recent plans to divorce, the couple plan to continue to work together with Bert's Big Adventure, which is now in its 14th year.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
The enterprise, inspired by a similar program created Bert's late radio protege Kidd Kraddock, each year picks about a dozen families who have kids with chronic or fatal diseases or injuries. What has made Bert's Big Adventure even more special over time is how families bond and stay in touch long after the original trip. The charity also hosts quarterly events for alumni families and developed a Fairy Godmother program so volunteers visit children when they are in hospitals and provide them a lift, a gift and a meal for the family itself.
I spoke with Bert briefly and he was clearly psyched about the trip. Relatively speaking, he said his personal travails pale in comparison to those of these families. "It puts life in perspective," he said.
At the kickoff party at the Renaissance Concourse Hotel hugging the Hartsfield runway, kids petted therapy dogs, jumped around a bouncy castle and cavorted with Disney characters such as Elsa and Buzz Lightyear. Ingrid Michaelson flew in to sing this year's theme song "Afterlife."
Bert presented each family's child a surprise gift. One seven-year-old boy with cystic fibrosis, Evan Tucker of Jasper, was greeted by members of the TruTV "Lizard Lick Towing," his favorite reality show, including "Repo Ron."
"He hugged Ronnie like 30 times," said Evan's mom Heather. Fortunately, despite his chronic disease, Evan is "doing really well. He had a liver transplant in 2010. He's been running around everywhere!" she said. She said, 'It's so exciting, I've been crying all the time. It's amazing what Bert does."
The adorable trio of adoptees Hailey, Hannah (who has leukemia in remission) and Taylor Schulte were told members of the boy group R5 were going to fly to Disney on Sunday morning to give them a private concert. "I was speechless," Hannah said, when she was informed by Bert of the concert. One girl who loves to dance will join the Atlanta Ballet later this year and participate in "The Nutcracker" at the Fabulous Fox Theatre.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
He and Stacey, at the ExpressJet hangar at Hartsfield Jackson, were the last folks getting on the plane. They ran down the red carpet together, with Bert shaking hands, hugging ExpressJet employees and posing for pictures galore before leaving for Orlando.
According to their most recent 990 form the organization is required to file annually as a charity, Bert's Big Adventure raised $685,544 in 2013 vs. $861, 599 in 2012. His best fundraising year was 2011.
His wife oversees the organization and is paid no salary but they have a program director Molly Parrish Darby, who is paid $60, 250. The form noted that the Fairy Godmother program made 228 visits and 335 people attended quarterly family reunion functions. They also help cover costs of funerals for any child that dies.
If you want to help out, they are doing a mini-fundraiser asking for just $5. You can donate here.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
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