LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. March 8, 2019— In celebration of International Women’s Month, Walt Disney World Resort and the Orlando Science Center teamed up to bring an interactive and educational evening to more than 100 Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida students.
The group enjoyed an evening focused on STEAM—Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics—and explored the museum with exclusive access to select exhibits, including the new Kinetic Zone and Above and Beyond: The Ultimate Interactive Flight Exhibition. They also participated in stimulating panel discussion featuring inspirational women in STEAM leadership roles from across Walt Disney World Resort.
“For our members, this is an opportunity to learn first-hand from successful professionals about promising career options,” said Gary Cain, presid
ent and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida. “We’re grateful to Disney for helping expand our Club members’ horizons.”
Together, the students and leaders sparked conversation around STEAM as well as leadership, inclusion and authenticity—all while engaging with their peers about how they can carry this transformative dialogue into their everyday lives.
“These students are the innovators and leaders of tomorrow, and connecting them with leaders making a real difference in the diverse world of STEAM shows them that anything is possible,” said Tajiana Ancora-Brown, director of external affairs at Walt Disney World Resort.
This special experience was brought to the students by Women’s Inclusion Network Diversity Resource Group at Walt Disney World Resort, a group of dedicated cast members who are committed to elevating and highlighting the powerful influence of diverse women on our culture, people and market as champions of inclusion, development and mentorship.
“Each and every day, we aim to inspire science learning. When others in the community join us in that mission—like Disney and Boys & Girls Clubs—we are able to reach even more children and families and show them the true power of igniting innovation,” said JoAnn Newman, president and CEO of the Orlando Science Center.
Walt Disney World Resort has a decades-long relationship with Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida. In 2018, the organization received a $100,000 Disney Grant in support of their Lake & Sumter Counties club locations, and Disney VoluntEARs dedicated more than 600 collective hours to the organization.
