TAMPA — ZooTampa at Lowry Park and a Tarpon Springs nonprofit organization united this month to give mobility impaired children and their families a full day of fun.

Wheelchairs 4 Kids held its second annual Wild Time Party on March 20, celebrating 45 of the kids it has served along with their families. Nearly 200 people attended the all-day event using tickets donated by ZooTampa at Lowry Park.

Wheelchairs 4 Kids Executive Director Madeline Robinson said the zoo and its staff went above and beyond for this year’s event. 

“It is incredible what can happen when nonprofits support each other,” she said. “I am so grateful to ZooTampa at Lowry Park for their support and this gift. Not only did they donate the tickets, but they also have given us the Saunders Pavilion for our party and are even bringing in some of their animals for the kids to meet up close and personal. I am floored by their generosity.”

Wheelchairs 4 Kids is a nonprofit dedicated to providing wheelchairs, home and vehicle modifications and other assistive or therapeutic equipment to children in need at no charge to families. Since its inception, the organization has helped more than 1,000 children.

The Wild Time Party’s main event took place during lunchtime in the Saunders Pavilion near the entrance of the park and featured Elsa from Frozen (Alicia Steele), Spider-Man (Jason Rawley), games, up-close animal visits and a DJ. Children took full advantage of photo opportunities with the famous characters, as well as with a real WWE Championship belt at the event on loan.

Following the main event, children and their families were invited to check out the zoo for the rest of the day.

Wheelchairs 4 Kids also received funding from the Lightning Foundation to help with this year’s Wild Time Party.

The nonprofit and nearly 20 children it serves didn't waste time preparing for another big event coming this weekend, either. Eighteen physically disabled kids and their parents will be at Tampa International Airport on Saturday, April 2, to embark on an adaptive snow skiing trip to Breckenridge, Colorado. According to Robinson, the trip comes courtesy of Southwest Airlines’ One Million Dollars of Thanks contest, which donated to 52 organizations throughout the United States.

To supplement the trip, Wheelchairs 4 Kids received additional sponsorships from Friendly KIA and the Broadrick Family Foundation, as well as donations from more than 200 individual donors.

According to the organization, the trip’s highlight will be the kids taking part in adaptive snow skiing with staff and volunteers from the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center, a Colorado-based nonprofit.