Disney VoluntEARS Archives - Chip and Co

Tag Archives: Disney VoluntEARS

Disney VoluntEARS build a KaBOOM! Playground in One Day

Saturday, May 11, 2013 Sunshine 2 Comments

Children in Clermont have a new place to play and learn thanks to dozens of Walt Disney World Cast Members who joined efforts with other community partners to build a KaBOOM! Playground.

The volunteers endured six hours of hard work and light rain as they installed new swings, a rock-climbing wall and spiral slides along with seesaws and monkey bars.

“This project meant a lot to me,” said Disney VoluntEAR Shelby Curry. “Because I live in Clermont, I feel like I’m not only giving back to the community, but my own children will also be able to play here for many years to come.”

Disney VoluntEARS Program Marks 30th Anniversary

Saturday, May 4, 2013 Sunshine No comments

With Mickey Mouse cheering them on, more than 250 Walt Disney World Cast Members gathered today for a pep rally to kick off a month-long celebration of the 30th anniversary of Disney VoluntEARS. The program is a global, company-wide effort that provides opportunities for Cast Members to contribute their time to make a positive impact on the community.

During the month of May, Cast Members around the world will commemorate the 30-year milestone by participating in activities that promote the happiness and wellbeing of children and families, strengthen their communities and inspire others to volunteer. At Walt Disney World Resort, thousands of Cast Members have committed to nearly 50 volunteer activities over the next 30 days from serving meals to the homeless to building playgrounds in local neighborhoods to caring for rescued animals.

“Walt Disney World is proud to be a member of the Central Florida community,” said George A. Kalogridis, president of Walt Disney World Resort. “We live in a dynamic community with many needs, and our VoluntEARS invest their time and talents in a variety of endeavors. Through them, we inspire children and families, revitalize our environment and improve the quality of life.”

Disney Helping Kids Shine with 1.5 Million Donation

Saturday, March 30, 2013 Sunshine No comments

Showered in red and gold confetti and sharing the stage with Mickey Mouse, Goofy and Disney Cast Members, representatives from 59 Central Florida organizations and school districts received more than $1.5 million today as part of the Disney Helping Kids Shine grants program.

As part of Disney Helping Kids Shine Grants program, they awarded the money to organizations and school districts that have a positive impact on approximately 70,000 thousand children in the community. They do that through programs that inspire creativity, encourage compassion and promote the health and well-being of families.

To date, Walt Disney World has awarded approximately $15 million in Disney Helping Kids Shine grants to benefit local nonprofit organizations.

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Sunshine

Disney is Sharing the Magic (chipandco.com)
Disney Bowl-A-Thon Supports Junior Achievement in Central Florida (chipandco.com)

Disney Helping Kids Shine with 1.5 Million Donation

Disney Bowl-A-Thon Supports Junior Achievement in Central Florida

Wednesday, March 6, 2013 Sunshine 1 Comment

Over the weekend more than 5,000 VoluntEARS from Walt Disney teamed up to raise funds to support the mission of Junior Achievement in Central Florida.

Junior Achievement is a nonprofit organization that goes into schools to provide age-appropriate economic education for children in grades K-12. Preparing young people for economically sound futures, Junior Achievement helps students understand financial responsibility by teaching lessons in how to earn, save, maintain a budget, manage credit and control their personal finances.

“With the support of Walt Disney World and their Cast Members, Junior Achievement is better able to achieve their goal of empowering children from kindergarten through high school to own their economic success and plan for their futures through smart academic and economic choices,” said Craig Polejes, president, Junior Achievement of Central Florida.

Qualifying donations raised this weekend by Disney VoluntEARS can be matched by The Walt Disney Company Foundation and will fund Junior Achievement programming, educator kits and classroom supplies. The Disney Bowl-A-Thon is the culmination of yearlong involvement Disney Cast Members extend to Junior Achievement by donating their time and talent to teaching Junior Achievement curriculum in Orange and Osceola County schools.

“For 19 years, Walt Disney World Resort Cast Members have generously supported Junior Achievement of Central Florida,” said Nancy Gidusko, director of community relations for Walt Disney World Resort. “All of the donations are a result of their compassion and readiness to give back to the community.”

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Sunshine

Disney is Sharing the Magic (chipandco.com)
Disney Imagineers Put Their Creativity to Work at Second Harvest Food Bank (chipandco.com)

Disney Bowl A Thon Supports Junior Achievement in Central Florida

Disney VoluntEARS Make a Huge Difference

Saturday, March 2, 2013 Tara No comments

Being a Disney VoluntEAR can include many rewarding experiences. One of the highlights of the program is Mickey, Minnie and VoluntEARS visiting children in hospitals. You can imagine the children’s happiness when they see some of their favorite characters come through that door holding presents for everyone!

Disney also extends these visits and their support by donating toys, DVDs, books, sleepwear and other items to hospitals each year. This year over 600 hospitals received a care package from Disney.

Delivering care packages to hospitals has been something Disney has been doing for the past ten years. They also partner with Child Life Council who helps steer them towards products that are needed and desired the most by children in hospitals.

It is tough to be a sick kid and who better than to help cheer you up than some Disney love! Have any of you taken advantage of the Disney VoluntEAR program? How was it?

Whether Tara is helping people make a memory with a trip to Disney (or anywhere else for that matter) or she is helping to write all the news and gossip to keep you in the know! She also has a brand new facebook page for even more tidbits on Disney and travel, so visit her at Magical Memories and the Mouse.