Lisa Bell, Central Floridian of the Week

It looked like a party fit for a king -- or maybe a princess -- yet it was not the work of Santa, but some of his Central Florida elves.

Two Windemere families felt compelled to do something different. Instead of giving gifts to each other, they decided to make a difference for those battling life-threatening illnesses. Click here to read the previous story.

"We love it," said Maritza Gonzalez, one of the donors. "It's the best gift we could ever have. I feel so good."

"For many years it was just about us," said Maritza's husband, Edward Gonzalez. "The parties, the kids and opening -- at one point a couple of years ago, they opened up, like, 20 to 30 gifts each. There was no feeling, no nothing. It meant nothing."

The Gonzalez and Anderson families have been blessed with healthy children, so they decided to donate a big Christmas bash at Give Kids The World Village in Kissimmee to give back.

That means they paid for everything -- all the food, the entertainment, and the close to 500 gifts.

It was a first at Give Kids The World. Nothing like it had ever been done.

"I think overwhelmed is such an understatement," said Pam Landwirth, president of Give Kids The World.

Each child received a blanket. The girls also got a doll, and the boys got a basketball signed by the Orlando Magic.

"That's what Christmas is really about -- giving instead of 'me, me, me,'" said Melinda Gonzalez, Edward and Maritza's daughter. "It's about other people, making other people happy."

The two families hoped the experience inspired everyone at Give Kids The World to renew their hope, because for them, it was a Christmas they will never forget. That is why they are our Central Floridians of the Week.

 To see more this or other Central Floridians of the Week, go to News 13 On Demand, Digital Cable Channel 313.

 
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