Disney Invests in Students and Donates to Florida Schools

Disney is making headlines but for all the right reasons this time. The Walt Disney Company has been known for its efforts in community service and helping others. Disney and Make-A-Wish have paired to help children’s dreams come true and raise awareness. The partnership has helped grant 150,000 wishes globally as they celebrate 43 years of working together.

Outside of Make-A-Wish, Disney does so much right in their own backyard. Previously Cast Members volunteered to send out food to students in the local area. Additionally, Cast Members happily stepped in again to create care packages sent out to the military overseas. In the same vein as the donated meals, Disney is once again giving back to the local community.

Walt Disney World is in Orlando, Florida, with its local community school districts being Osceola, Lake, Polk, and Seminole counties. Just before the new school year, Disney donated $125,000 as its latest investment. Tajiana Ancora-Brown, Director of External Affairs at Walt Disney World Resort, said,

“Our company is very much rooted in storytelling, so supporting the future storytellers in our community is critical. Career dreams begin in the classroom, and we’re helping students build a solid foundation to pursue those dreams and become who they imagine they can be.”

Walt Disney World Resort today announced $125,000 in donations to support school districts in Osceola, Lake, Polk and Seminole counties. Disney says the funds "will be used to expand workforce development and early learning student programs."

More: https://t.co/3ybHofCnhl pic.twitter.com/GI1kY971dt

— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) August 17, 2023

How Disney Gives Back

The generous donation of $125,000 joins Disney’s ongoing efforts with Back-to-School Supply Drive and A Gift for Teaching. As the lead sponsor of A Gift for Teaching, Disney has teamed up with them for decades to provide assistance. “Disney World and its Cast Members collected more than $177K in essential school supplies and monetary donations this summer to help get Florida students and teachers the resources they need to succeed in the classroom throughout the school year,” Disney details.

Additional ways Disney supports back-to-school efforts across the state are,

• Disney matched eligible cast donations made during the Back-to-School Drive through its Disney Matching Gifts program.
• Disney VoluntEARS spent more than 2.3K hours in the community this summer helping students and teachers prepare for the first day back.
• A Gift For Teaching was the celebrated charity of the runDisney Virtual Series, where runners helped raise an additional $20K for the organization.

President Jane Thompson from A Gift For Teaching thanked Cast Members and Disney for their deep impact on the organization. The consistent donations inspire teachers and students, bringing students specifically “one step closer to a future where every student has the tools they need to achieve their dreams,” she says.

What’s one way you’ve given back to your own community?