First Lady Michelle Obama Celebrates Second Anniversary of ‘Let’s Move!,’ Disney Magic of Healthy Living at ESPN Wide World of Sports
posted on February 11th, 2012 by Kathleen Prihoda, Manager of Media Relations, Walt Disney World Resort
Taking a cue from Perry the Platypus from the Disney Channel series “Phineas and Ferb,” First Lady Michelle Obama, Disney Channel and Disney XD stars and nearly 1,500 local children and families got their groove on this afternoon at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
With the goal of showing how fitness can be fun, the First Lady joined pro athletes and Disney Channel stars Debby Ryan (“Jessie”), Roshon Fegan (“Shake It Up”), and Disney XD stars Doc Shaw and Kelsey Chow (“Pair of Kings”) and Olivia Holt (“Kickin’ It”) to inspire attendees to live healthier lifestyles by taking simple steps every day.
From “The Platypus Walk” (a new dance inspired by Perry the Platypus) to soccer drills to cooking demos with healthy foods, the event was jam packed with activities that can easily be done at home. Kicking, sprinting and jumping were par for the course and the kids seemed to enjoy the challenge.
These efforts mark the second anniversary of Let’s Move!, the First Lady’s initiative to end childhood obesity within a generation, and Disney Magic of Healthy Living, an initiative designed to partner with parents in their quest to raise healthy, happy kids.
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Disney Characters Make the Rounds with a Special Dose of Magic
posted on February 10th, 2012 by Kathleen Prihoda, Manager of Media Relations, Walt Disney World Resort
Drawing wisdom from Mary Poppins, a dedicated team of Disney Parks cast members is using a dose of Disney magic much like “a spoonful of sugar” to help the medicine go down.
Throughout the year, Disney’s animal care team ventures into Orlando-area hospitals to lift the spirits of children in pediatric care.
Accompanied by all sorts of exotic animals on these special visits, Disney animal experts bring the joy and wonder of wildlife to young patients who get to learn and interact with them.
Special visitors make the rounds as well; Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Donald Duck and Chip ‘n’ Dale have all been known to appear toward the end of the program.
It never fails to amaze me how magical it feels when “Nurse Minnie” and other Disney characters walk into these rooms. For a moment, kids seem to forget about what’s ailing them. Smiles abound and everyone is left feeling good.
While it is a temporary relief, these visits are much like pet therapy. They make the hospital experience a little less scary, encourage curiosity about nature and aid in the healing process by helping children journey into their imagination.
Walt Disney World Resort Brightens the Holidays With ‘Season of Sharing’
posted on December 23rd, 2011 by Kathleen Prihoda, Manager of Media Relations, Walt Disney World Resort
Happy holidays everyone! I’m happy to report the spirit of giving is alive and well at Walt Disney World Resort, where cast members are sharing their magic to make the season brighter for many Central Floridians.
As part of the “Season of Sharing” during the past few weeks, Disney VoluntEARS have:
- Collected 38,323 toys for the U.S. Marines Toys for Tots campaign;
- Spent more than 4,500 hours sorting and distributing Toys for Tots donations;
- Outfitted more than 2,000 teddy bears for the Salvation Army;
- Prepared more than 1,500 meals at Coalition for the Homeless; and
- Packaged more than 30,000 pounds of prepared food for the Disney Harvest program benefitting Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.
While these efforts clearly help during the holidays, they go well beyond, as Disney gives cash and in-kind support year round at hundreds of local nonprofits that focus on improving the lives of children and families.
Time and time again, I’m impressed and amazed by what happens when Disney steps up to help address community needs.
These acts of generosity are deeply appreciated by those who benefit from them and are truly making a difference during a time when it’s needed most.
Disney VoluntEARS Donate 30,000 Toys to Families in Need at Walt Disney World Resort
posted on December 9th, 2011 by Kathleen Prihoda, Manager of Media Relations, Walt Disney World Resort
‘Tis the season at Walt Disney World Resort for the annual Toys for Tots drive, and cast members have been busy collecting a record number of toys for children in need.
Yesterday, Mickey Mouse and Disney VoluntEARS began to deliver a collection of more than 30,000 new toys to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s Central Florida Toys for Tots headquarters. Gunnery Sergeant Jose Rodriguez tells me that the sizable donation is the largest received to date and will help make the holiday season brighter for more than 20,000 children in Orange and Seminole counties. Click the video to see highlights from the give.
In addition to donating toys, Disney VoluntEARS are giving more than 4,500 hours toward helping the Marines with sorting donations and distributing toys to families in need.
Disney’s involvement with Toys for Tots is a tradition that dates back more than 60 years. In fact, Walt Disney and his animators designed the original Toys for Tots logo, which the campaign still uses today.
Disney Cast Members Pen Postcards of Thanks to U.S. Troops
posted on November 25th, 2011 by Kathleen Prihoda, Manager of Media Relations, Walt Disney World Resort
As I think about what I’m thankful for this holiday season, I’m grateful to those who protect our nation so we have the freedom enjoy this special time with our friends and families.
Recognizing the efforts of the armed forces has become a year-round mission for some Disney VoluntEARS, who send notes of encouragement to U.S. troops just to let them know how much they are appreciated.
Founded by a Disneyland Resort cast member in 1995, Operation Uplift was inspired by a letter from a soldier serving in Operation Desert Storm. That note said the troops didn’t receive much mail, but when they did, it meant the world to them because they knew people back home cared.
Since that time, Disney VoluntEARS around the country have sent more than 90,000 postcards of support and thanks to servicemen and servicewomen serving domestically and overseas.
Those who participate in Operation Uplift say they find great reward in sharing the magic of Disney with military men and women who are serving far from friends and family.
While it might seem like a small gesture, it’s nice to know that these patriotic postcards offer a salute with a smile and brighten many a day.
Disney Feeds Campaign to End Hunger in Central Florida
posted on November 10th, 2011 by Kathleen Prihoda, Manager of Media Relations, Walt Disney World Resort
With a gift perfect for Thanksgiving, Walt Disney World Resort delivered some special bushels of green yesterday to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida as part of ongoing efforts to help local families in need.
Minnie Mouse, joined by Disney VoluntEARS, gave $500,000 to assist Second Harvest in its “Building Solutions to Hunger” campaign. Due to a record level of demand for its services, Second Harvest needs to build a larger facility so it can accept and distribute significantly more food throughout the community.
In addition to the funds, Disney pledged 20,000 pounds of fresh produce to the organization during the next year. This is on top of the ongoing Disney Harvest contributions, which totaled nearly 360,000 pounds of food in 2010.
Now in its 20th year, Disney Harvest collects excess prepared and unserved food from locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort and delivers it to Second Harvest.
Donations range from salad to filet mignon and help feed more than 1,000 local kids a week.
Watch the video to learn more.
Benefit Sale Returns to Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World Resort
posted on October 17th, 2011 by Kathleen Prihoda, Manager of Media Relations, Walt Disney World Resort
Eager to get a jump start on your holiday shopping? There’s good sale coming up at Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World Resort that rewards early birds and supports a very worthy cause.
Back for a second year, the Benefit Sale will greet shoppers before dawn on Nov. 5 with discounts of 25% off select merchandise at participating Downtown Disney locations, special doorbusters and more. Your key to getting in on the deal is to purchase a $5 voucher in advance from Heart of Florida United Way because access will be limited. All proceeds from the voucher sales go directly to the United Way and its local partner agencies, which help provide health and social services to Central Floridians who need it most.
For details, go to www.thebenefitsale.com. Be sure to get your vouchers in advance and enjoy savings as you give back.
Walt Disney World Resort Earns Top Honors for Supporting the Arts
posted on September 14th, 2011 by Kathleen Prihoda, Manager of Media Relations, Walt Disney World Resort
I have some exciting news to share. Americans for the Arts just named Walt Disney World Resort as one the 10 best companies in the U.S. for its exceptional commitment to the arts. Walt Disney World Resort will receive the BCA 10: Best Companies Supporting the Arts in America for 2011 award on October 5 at a black-tie gala in New York City.
As a company that began with a drawing of a mouse, Disney has a legacy founded in artistic expression and rich storytelling. Creativity and innovation are just part of the DNA here at Walt Disney World Resort as is support of the arts community in Central Florida.
For nearly four decades, Walt Disney World Resort has helped foster the local arts community through millions in cash, in-kind donations and the knowledge and expertise of its cast members. Among these contributions is a $12.5 million capital investment in the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Last year alone, Walt Disney World Resort gave more than $565,000 to the local arts community, including Disney Helping Kids Shine grants to support local youth arts programs such as A Gift For Music, which provides free classical music instruction to economically disadvantaged students.
With approximately 3,000 performing roles at Walt Disney World Resort alone, the Orlando area is considered the nation’s fourth largest creative talent base after New York, Los Angeles and Nashville. A cultural community needs support to thrive – I’m so proud to see Disney take a starring role in these efforts and earn some great recognition for it.
Disney-Sponsored Football Game Celebrates Diversity and Inspires Youth
posted on September 7th, 2011 by Kathleen Prihoda, Manager of Media Relations, Walt Disney World Resort
Spend time watching college football this past weekend? I certainly did (Go NOLES!) as did many fans who welcomed the start of the season.
Here at Walt Disney World Resort and across Orlando, game day spirit was strong with the 7th annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney, a weekend of events that celebrates teams from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and culminates with a football game broadcast across the networks of ESPN. This year, Central Florida’s own Bethune-Cookman University from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) had a 63-14 win over Texas’ Prairie View A&M University from the Southwestern Conference (SWAC).
Tens of thousands of fans came to Central Florida to enjoy the game and the numerous festivities surrounding it, ranging from a Legends Reception, held at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, to salute HBCU graduates who have achieved legendary status both on and off the gridiron to a special parade showcasing marching bands on Main Street, U.S.A.
View the video to see highlights.
While football certainly plays a part in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney, it is more than just a game. Eugene Campbell, vice president of Domestic Minority Business Development for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, calls it a celebration of determination and passion that the players possess both on and off the field. It also builds on Disney’s long history of support for diversity and education.
Hundreds of students at Jones High School got to see this first hand with ESPN 101 Career Panel, which kicked off the MEAC/SWAC Weekend and gave local youth an opportunity to hear real-world advice directly from a panel of top sports professionals. Panelists such as ESPN anchor Jay Harris, Olympian Obadele Thompson and others shared their personal stories of sacrifice and dedication as they answered students’ questions about how to reach their own career goals.
Take a look at other ways Disney Parks has reached out to youth in the community:
- Disney Gives Students Back-to-School Support
- Disney VoluntEARS Help Build KaBOOM! Playground in Anaheim
- Surprises Continue as Walt Disney World Gives $1.2 Million Over 40 Days
Disney Gives Students Back-to-School Support
posted on August 22nd, 2011 by Kathleen Prihoda, Manager of Media Relations, Walt Disney World Resort
Busy in back-to-school mode? I certainly have been and so have Walt Disney World Resort cast members. They’ve collected a record 2.1 million school supplies during their annual back-to-school supply drive. The items, ranging from pencils to notebook paper, are classroom essentials that will help thousands of Central Florida students start the school year off right.
Last week, Disney VoluntEARS distributed nearly 14,000 backpacks filled with 1,810,000 million school supplies to 19 schools and community centers throughout Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Polk and Lake counties.
As part of these efforts, VoluntEARS teamed up with S.T.A.R.S. (Supplies to Assist Our Students) of West Orange to welcome families at Meet-the-Teacher events at several local public elementary schools and give out backpacks filled with school supplies. View highlights below.
Additionally, VoluntEARS gave approximately 377,815 school supplies to A Gift For Teaching’s free store so that local teachers can put them to use in their classrooms.
While these new school supplies may seem like a small gesture, they make a world of difference to the students who are receiving them in a time of record need in Central Florida.
