The Walt Disney World Resort has donated $1.5 million to19 Florida nonprofits. These nonprofits have the fact that they all create positive change in Florida in common.
“Florida has been our home for more than half a century and each organization receiving a grant is doing amazing work for our community,” said Rena Langley, Senior Vice President of Communications & Public Affairs at Walt Disney World Resort. “This will help them continue making big differences and is another step forward in our long history of giving back to those around us.”
There are a variety of different things that each nonprofit that is receiving a Disney Grant does that supports important work in the state for both Floridians and also their families. This includes strong education and workforce development programs, support for the arts, combatting homelessness and hunger, and other things. Disney released the following infographic about these grants:
JoAnn Newman, President & CEO at Orlando Science Center said about receiving a grant, “Disney has been the best partner, and it’s our honor to receive this Disney Grant and continue doing the work to serve our community. I can’t say thank you enough!” “It is an incredible privilege to be a Disney Grant recipient. It’s one of the biggest votes of confidence I think that we could receive!” also said Terrance Hunter, CEO at Central Florida Community Arts. Rev. Mary Downey, CEO at Hope Partnership shard her gratitude as well, “This Disney Grant means so much to us. We at Hope Partnership are all always humbled by Disney’s support and the way that they take care of the families in our community.”
Along with the financial gifts, Walt Disney World cast members also volunteer their own time with many of these organizations who received the grant through the Disney VoluntEARS program. This year along the cast have volunteered more than 115,000 hours through this program. These efforts are on top of other donations to local school districts, donating to homeless center, the creation of new affordable housing, donations to environmental efforts, and the world’s biggest Make-A-Wish ever that concluded with a royal ball.
Disney says that it will continue to look for “meaningful ways to make significant impacts as it looks to the future.” For more information about how Walt Disney World Resort is investing in Florida, visit DisneyFlorida.com.
