On February 20th, the Bert’s Big Adventure staff and our fourteen amazing new kiddos and their families were up before dawn, filled with excitement—because TODAY was the day!
As part of the yearly tradition, the send-off party was full of excitement as The Bert Show unveiled multiple surprises to the families during their live broadcast at the Hilton Atlanta Airport hotel.
Every corner of the party was bursting with joy! Holland Musico from Balloonacy filled the space with stunning balloon arrangements, while Carter’s Charitable Foundation brought the magic of Moana to life with an interactive booth full of games and gifts. The incredibly talented Christaven Kroy wowed everyone with his amazing balloon artistry!
Thanks to the generosity of the Georgia Amusement & Music Operators Association (GAMOA), the Kids’ Zone was packed with games, activities, and even a Mickey bounce house! They also treated parents to a relaxing chair massage in the lobby. Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck kept everyone energized with delicious coffee creations, and Button It Up Photobooth returned this year to capture countless magical memories with their fun photo booth!
Some truly epic surprises were unveiled! Jolene and Sky were grinning from ear to ear when our amazing friends at Gas South revealed a week-long retreat at Callaway Gardens for their family, complete with their very own private villa. In a touching tribute to Sky’s heart donor, Gas South also gifted them an unforgettable experience at the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center. There, they will be surrounded by over 1,000 butterflies in one of North America’s largest tropical butterfly conservatories, a vibrant, living space where butterflies emerge, dry their wings, and take their first flight. It will be a magical moment they’ll never forget!
The Atlanta Hawks have officially signed sweet KJ to a day-long contract, where he’ll be treated like a true VIP, meeting the players and hanging out courtside! And that’s not all! Third Eye Creative Productions will take care of everything off the court and cover travel, meals, and souvenirs.
Greg “Chipper” Harvey, Bristol’s Vice President of Corporate Sales, gave Bobby the ultimate surprise with a VIP experience to the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway, featuring thrilling vintage NASCAR short-track racing. But wait, there’s more! Bobby and his family will get to experience VIP seats, exclusive garage area access, opportunities to meet drivers, and even a chance to be part of pace car laps. That’s not all! Zaxby’s is rolling out the red carpet with an amazing hotel stay for Bobby’s family, plus cash for meals, souvenirs, and transportation! Talk about Zax of Kindness!
Oliver’s family was gifted a brand-new, three-bedroom townhome at The Mabry in Gwinnett County—completely rent-free for an entire year, thanks to our generous friends at RangeWater Real Estate. The Mabry offers a vibrant, welcoming community with luxury townhomes, exceptional amenities, and a dedicated management team always ready to help.
The Hapeville Fire Department found out that Miller has been dreaming of driving a fire truck, so they made a special visit to surprise him! The fire truck took Max for a spin – he felt like a real life fireman! They even brought firefighter hats for all the kids to wear and enjoy at the party!
Following the party, Fur Bus shuttled the families to the airport, where they boarded a chartered flight courtesy of Endeavor Air to Walt Disney World. The kiddos were spoiled as Endeavor Air greeted us outside the airport, escorted us through security with cheers, personalized signs, and Disney Princesses and Stars Wars characters. They also turned the gate into a total vibe with a dance party, decorated the cabin of the airplane in celebratory Disney decor, and served a delicious lunch mid-flight! We all felt like royalty in the sky!
Upon arrival at the happiest place on earth, the families checked in to Disney’s Boardwalk Inn for unpacking and much-needed rest before our first night in the parks.
Everyone then met up for a delicious dinner at a ballroom in the Boardwalk Inn! We shared Braised Beef Brisket, Barbeque Spiced Chicken, White Cheddar Baked Mac and Cheese, Fried Apple Pie, Smores Cereal Treats, Mini Mickey “Mouse” Domes, and much more!
After dinner, there was a surprise (!!!) dance party with an epic DJ spinning all the best hits where the kiddos were shocked by their besties – Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, and Pluto! We laughed, played games, and got out the wiggles before one final dance was capped off by the pop of confetti.
A HUGE thank you to so many of our amazing vendors and sponsors for making this day so special for everyone! Q99.7 Atlanta, Hilton Atlanta Airport hotel, GA Garrison 501st, Southern Belle Character Company, Jumptastic, Unique Event Elements, In Concert Promotions “ICP”, and many more!
Another huge thank you to our photographers, Amanda W. Coker, Cassandra Young Photography, Monarch Studio, and Sarah Esther Photography. Thank you to Aslyn Baringer Productions and Salt Run Creative for capturing these magical moments on video!
Follow along with the enchantment using the hashtag #BBA2025 or on Instagram, TikTok, X, and Facebook!
Remember, we couldn’t do all of this without YOU!
As we embark on this once-in-a-lifetime journey, we invite our supporters to join us. Your #TheLittleGive contribution, whether it’s $5 or more, can make a monumental difference in the lives of these deserving children with chronic and terminal illnesses. Every dollar you donate to Bert’s Big Adventure between now and February 28th will be matched dollar for dollar by Zaxby’s. It’s not just a donation; it’s a BOGO good karma opportunity. Please donate today.
Tomorrow – Magic Kingdom!
