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Category Archives: VoluntEARS
Disney to Award Record $1.5 Million to Benefit Central Florida Kids
With help from Mickey Mouse and dozens of VoluntEARS, Walt Disney World Resort today kicked off efforts to award a record $1.5 million in Disney Helping Kids Shine grants to 59 organizations that help enrich the lives of Central Florida kids.
Organizations and school districts with programs that use art, music and theater to stimulate creativity and critical thinking among children were the first to receive grants during a visit to the Orlando Repertory Theatre.
“At Walt Disney World Resort, our vision is to build on our philanthropic legacy by investing in programs that make a lasting change in our community and promote the happiness and well being of children and families”, said Nancy Gidusko, director of community relations for Walt Disney World Resort. “These organizations represent the best of the best.”
Throughout the week, Walt Disney World Resort will make surprise visits to other organizations in the five counties that encourage creativity, innovation and compassion in children. Combined, the grants are expected to benefit an estimated 70,000 children in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake and Polk counties.
A 15-member committee that included community leaders, government officials, educators, entrepreneurs and Cast Members selected this year’s grant recipients.
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Disney VoluntEARS Build Playground for Lakeland Area Kids
The spirit of volunteerism filled the Boys & Girls Club of Lakeland on April 28, as Orlando and Tampa-based Disney VoluntEARS converged to build a playground at the facility with the help of the KaBOOM! organization and Girls, Inc.
Entertainment and diversions kept the energy high with Radio Disney playing music, and hosting interactive games, raffles and dances. Disney Cast Members from Animal Science and Environment participated on the Youth Activities Team which was comprised of volunteers age 17 years and younger. The Cast shared Earth Month initiatives and staffed an outdoor activities station on “Bugs You Can Find in Your Own Back Yard”.
The event was covered by Lakeland’s newspaper, The Ledger, and Gow Fields, Mayor, City of Lakeland, volunteered during the entire building process. Rex Perry, Executive Director of Boys & Girls Club of Lakeland and Kay Fields, President/CEO of Girls, Inc. were overcome with joy at the completion of the build. Perry made it a point to speak to all the Disney VoluntEARS on their buses as they departed to thank them for their exceptional efforts to making this come true for Lakeland. He shared with them his motto of the day “this is all for the kids.”
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Disney Conservation Camps Encourage Kids to Explore Nature
Inspiring kids and families to connect with nature, Disney is sponsoring approximately 120 Central Florida children to attend a special Spring Conservation Day Camp at Walt Disney World Resort.
During their week-long school vacations, students will be introduced to animals from five different continents, learn more about their unique behaviors and exotic habitats and make new friends in a fun and interactive environment.
Highlights include daily animal encounters, field trips to Tri-Circle D Ranch, The Seas with Nemo & Friends and fun at Disney’s Animal Kingdom where participants may experience Kali River Rapids, Kilimanjaro Safaris, TriceraTop Spin and Expedition Everest.
“With a philanthropic focus on children and conservation, we believe this kind of exposure could spark a life-long passion or even career aspiration for conservation,” said Nancy Gidusko, director of community relations for Walt Disney World Resort. “Through this experience, we hope these day campers will feel empowered to become champions for wildlife and nature and affect change to make the world a better place for all of us.”
The students have been selected from two of the area’s largest neighborhood centers including Engelwood Neighborhood Center in Orlando and Oak Street Park Community Center in Kissimmee.
”The Disney Spring Conservation camp is a wonderful gift that offers our youth an opportunity to do something very different during their school vacations,” said Taryn Rukovitz, regional center manager for Engelwood Neighborhood Center. “By going behind the scenes to learn more about animals and conservation, we hope these students will connect with wildlife and nature in a unique and long-lasting way.”
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Giving is our Way at Disney – a Poem
To the tune of “Winter Wonderland”
Community called, we were listening,
At the ready, our smiles a glistening
Bringing holiday cheer,
And donating all year,
Giving is our way at Disneyland.
We gave away – record donations
To charities, and foundations
$13 million was contributed,
in So Cal it was distributed
Giving is our way at Disneyland.
For the kids cast members held a toy drive,
Led by the one and only Mickey Mouse
He said: Are you giving?
We said: Yes Mic,
Thousands to the Toys-for-Tots warehouse.
Our wish program — we conspired,
By the children, we were inspired
With characters enchanted
550 wish trips granted,
Giving is our way at Disneyland.
At a park together we built a playground,
For Anaheim children it did please
Adopt-a-Family helped 700 people,
Marine families received lots of Christmas trees.
Ticket requests, came to fruition,
For nonprofits – theme park admission,
16 thousand donations,
to 4 thousand organizations,
Giving is our way at Disneyland.
The call for help, we were listenin’
VoluntEARs workin’ and whistlin’
85 thousand hours this year,
One hundred sixty events with our gear,
Giving is our way at Disneyland.
In the schools we helped to build art programs,
About 200 grants that we gave
College aid for 10 high school seniors,
Five thousand in tuition each will save.
To volunteer, the feeling’s thrilling,
Dreams at CHOC, we are a’ filling
At the CHOC Walk day,
Or holiday party to play,
Giving is our way at Disneyland.
Giving is our way at Disneyland.
Giving is our way at Disneyland.
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Disney’s Support of Covenant House Helps Youth Build Solid Foundation
During the holidays and throughout the year, Walt Disney World Resort provides cash and in-kind support to hundreds of local organizations that aim to build brighter futures for children and families.
One such organization benefitting from Disney’s ongoing outreach is Covenant House Florida, which focuses on helping runaway, homeless and at-risk youth – including teen parents and their babies.
Earlier this year, Disney donated enough surplus carpeting to refurbish the organization’s entire center, replacing worn-down flooring with hundreds of feet of new carpet and padding.
Maria Shorkey, Covenant House community relations director, said the donation helps provide a safer and more comfortable surface for toddlers and young children to crawl and play.
“The kids are always playing or doing activities on the floor and new, clean carpet makes a world of difference for them,” said Shorkey.
Disney supports Covenant House in other ways too. Recently, hundreds of Central Floridians gathered at Lake Eola for Covenant House’s annual candlelight vigil to show support and raise awareness of homeless youth in the community. As part of its ongoing community outreach efforts, Walt Disney World served as a sponsor of the event.
Angie Sola, Walt Disney World Resort community relations program manager, works closely with Covenant House and attendedthe ceremony.
“The vigil is a very humbling experience and a reminder not to take anything for granted,” Sola said. “We hope that bringing exposure to the issue of homelessness will move the community to find and fund solutions so no child feels they are alone in the world.”
Walt Disney World gave the organization a $28,000 Disney Helping Kids Shine grant earlier this year to help fund its Bright Beginnings program, in which children facing extreme poverty participate in creative activities that help build character, stimulate their development and strengthen the relationship between parent and child.
Grants like these help Covenant House Florida provide food and shelter, as well as life skills and education programs to those in need. Last year, the center in Orlando offered resources to more than 200 youths.
To learn more about Covenant House, visit covenanthousefl.org.
Source Article from http://wdwnews.com/releases/2011/12/23/disneys-support-of-covenant-house-helps-youth-build-solid-foundation/
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