Virginia Tech and Rutgers gave back to the Central Florida community at the Give Kids the World Village Wednesday morning.

“Sometimes you go through life and don’t understand what else is going on out there, so I think it gives everybody a great appreciation for what they’ve got and what they can give to other people, making them happy for a day,” Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer said. 

During the two-hour visit, players danced with the kids, played basketball and handed out ice cream. Players gave the kids hats, goodie bags and footballs that they all signed.

“This village is really a spectacular place and we’re really honored to be a part of this today,” Rutgers head coach Kyle Flood said.  “I think for our players this is a tremendous educational experience for them and one more reminder of not just how fortunate they are to be college football players and have this bowl experience but how fortunate they are to have health and the family members in their lives that they do.”

The Give Kids the World Village is a place where families with terminally ill children can stay while enjoying the Orlando attractions.  They are a non-profit organization and charges nothing for the families staying there.

“There’s nothing better,” Virginia Tech QB Logan Thomas said. “It’s good to give back. You know some of the kids out here haven’t had the greatest things happen to them thus far, and it’s good to be able to show that we care. There is life outside of football.”

Thomas was one of the most active of the players whether it was hoola-hooping or dancing, Thomas kept the kids happy. 

Many of the players signed autographs and took pictures with the kids and their families. 

“I want to become a pen pal with a couple of people so I’m looking forward to exchanging email addresses with a couple of the kids,”Rutgers LB Khaseem Greene said.