On Wednesday evening, and after a very long 758 days, we kicked off Bert’s Big Adventure 2022! The energy was absolutely electric as the 2022 Bert’s Big Adventure families arrived at the Hilton Atlanta Airport hotel in complete luxury, thanks to the meticulous planning of our sweet friend, Ally, at Fur Bus!

This was the first time that our Bert’s Big Adventure staff had the opportunity to meet the precious 2022 families in person, and to say everyone was SO excited would be an understatement! The group happily mixed and mingled before dining on a delicious meal from Zaxby’s! After dinner, a King of Pops dessert dance party followed while we all jammed out to tunes by DJ Jobe! The gorgeous space was lovingly decorated by the incredible talents of Holland Musico of Balloonacy.

SURPRISE! Right before bedtime, Bert made a few major announcements! Mattress Firm generously donated a new mattress and box spring to each Bert’s Big Adventure family! Thanks to big-hearted local author, Jo Dodd, each Bert’s Big Adventure kiddo received a personalized backpack and a signed copy of Tilly Toad’s Heavy Load. Lululemon Avalon donated incredible Everywhere Belt Bags that will undoubtedly come in handy during our Disney adventures. We also have to give a heartfelt thank you to Carter’s Charitable Foundation for donating emergency travel money to our families should anyone forget to pack anything for the trip.

To everyone who donated to our Amazon Wish List – thank you SO much! Thanks also to our dear friends, Cindy and Kevin Powers, we surprised each of our Bert’s Big Adventure kiddos with costumes that made them smile from ear to ear! They were invited to wear their new outfits to dinner tomorrow night, so be sure to watch for pictures of all of the cuteness.

We would never be able to do this without the Hilton Atlanta Airport hotel! The hotel donates all of our event spaces, along with an overnight stay for every Bert’s Big Adventure family! They truly set the tone for a once-in-a-lifetime journey – THANK YOU!

Make sure to follow all of the magical moments as they happen with the hashtag #BBA2022 and #MagicalMoments, or on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook!

Last but never least, thanks to our photographers, including Sarah Esther Photography, Brenda Upton Portraits, and Dash Photography. Thank you to Salt Run Creative for capturing these magical moments on video!

Remember, we couldn’t do all of this without you! We’re asking our supporters to make a donation that’s meaningful. Please rest assured that your support will make a difference in the lives of these very deserving children. Please donate today.

The day has finally arrived because tomorrow…. we head to Walt Disney World!