Disneyland For Deserving Kids

My name is Joshua and I have a 10 year old daughter Leila. Before I left to chase the helicopter around fighting fires this summer I told my daughter that I would take her to Disneyland when I got home at the end of the season. I've got about a month or so left before I am back home and ready to take her on our trip. My daughter has a close friend who is also 10 that likes to stay over and play games with her. It makes me happy to see them play together because my daughter doesn't have many friends. I took them to Enchanted Forest a couple of weeks ago and let them run around all day and ride the rides until they had enough. Ice cream, snacks, pictures, souvenirs, and fun. A few days ago I learned that this girl is in fact homeless. She has 3 siblings. A brother that is 2, and twin sisters that are 12 years old. They are all homeless. I was originally going to take just my daughter to Disneyland but when I found out that her friend was homeless I decided that I would take her too. Then last night I began to think how left out the 12 year olds would feel if their sister got to go and they didn't. These kids don't have much of anything at all. They don't get birthday parties, presents, or any of the things that many kids take for granted. The saddest part of all is that they are ok with it. Kids need the opportunity to be kids. To wonder, to hope, to dream, and to be able to count on some things knowing that they are unwavering and will always be there when in need. So I want to take these three kids along with my daughter to Disneyland in a couple of months. I'm not asking for a penny for myself, my daughter, or even her friend. I'll pay for them. I'm just going to ask you guys and gals to help me cover the costs of taking the two 12 year old girls along with. I'd like to show them a great time that they will never forget and I am a sucker for kids and have a hard time saying no when they have a pleading look in their eyes. They should be able to cut loose in Disneyland and forget about any stresses or anxiety that may be in their lives. From what I can tell the ticket prices for a two day pass are $225 each which includes a maxpass which will hopefully allow them to get in as many rides as possible over the two day adventure. I plan to drive them down there over the course of 2 days, spend two days at Disneyland, then take 2 days to drive back. Kind of a whirlwind but I will be able to keep costs down by limiting the trip to 6 days in total. I'm planning this trip for sometime in late October after fire season. I'd spend money on a hotel even if it were just my daughter and I so I'm not asking for help with that. There will be meals purchased away from the park as well as snacks brought with us to help defray expenses. I plan on letting them get a few souvenirs to take home to remember the trip by. I appreciate all your help with making this trip happen and giving these kids a bright spot in their lives. I hope their situation improves and their family is able to get into a home before winter. Any and all money that is raised with this fundraiser will go toward the girls expenses for the Disneyland trip. This isnt to line my pockets or to offset my costs to take my daughter. I'll be sure to share pictures and videos of them being surprised with the trip, and of them having fun at the park. I will be keeping receipts of all of the expenses and will be happy to provide an itemized report to anyone who donates to the cause in order to show that their money truly went to a worthy cause.

I'm asking for $1000 to help get these kiddos to Disneyland. If I'm unable to raise that much I will spend the money out of my pocket to make sure they get there.

Here is an accounting of how I arrived at that amount:
Tickets: $225 each - $450 total
Souveneirs and snacks: $100 each - $200 total
Meals: $30 per day each x 6 days = $180 each - $360 total.

Total: $1010

Mind you, this is for the two 12 year olds to be able to go. I'm covering the cost of myself, my daughter, and her 10 year old friend. I imagine that there will be other costs as yet unseen that I will have to account for but I'm prepared for that. Thank you all for your consideration and for parting with a little of your hard earned money in an effort to show these kids a magical time where they can forget their problems for a few days.