Disney regularly makes a positive impact with local community organizations and initiatives through its Disney VoluntEARS program. These VoluntEARS donate their time and efforts to help make communities better. Sometimes this means cleaning up a park, other times it means volunteering with a local children’s hospital. It also can mean delivering care packages nationwide.
The Walt Disney Company has a long standing commitment to U.S. Military members and their families. In June, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Disney VoluntEARS visited Fisher Houses across the nation to deliver special care packages filled with Disney-themed home goods, toys, games, and books from Disney Consumer Products. On top of that, a Disney grant also went to Fisher House Foundation to assist the homes with acquiring essential items for their guests.
Fisher Houses have been providing a “home away from home” to families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers. This has been done for over three decades. The homes offer a free, temporary place to stay for military and veteran families. This allows them to be close to their loved ones as they receive medical care.
“Disney has a longstanding appreciation for those who have served in the U.S. military,” said Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Experiences. “We are honored to make this contribution to the Fisher House Foundation to continue our support of military and veteran families when they need it.”
The very first Fisher House is located at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Mickey Mouse made a special visit there. This care package program was announced in November 2023. Since then, Disney has worked hand in hand with the Fisher House Foundation to make sure that they have the details of what each family would find most beneficial. This means that nearly 100 Fisher Houses that span the country from Anchorage, Alaska to Miami, Florida, will be receiving these care packages.
Some of these Fisher Houses are local and in Southern California. Two of these locations that received deliveries were in Long Beach and Los Angeles. Disney VoluntEARS and SALUTE members from the Disneyland Resort were a part of these efforts. They presented care packages, met with staff/families, and also helped with other needs during their visit, which included dinner for house guests and staff. Minnie Mouse was also in attendance! SALUTE is Disney’s Business Employee Resource Group (BERG) that represents and advocates for military and veteran cast members along with their friends and families.
“Disney has been a tremendous friend for many years supporting the military and veteran community through Fisher House Foundation and other initiatives,” said Ken Fisher, chairman and CEO of Fisher House Foundation. “Their commitment to veterans and to families is simply magical. We are grateful to their leadership, cast members, and VoluntEARS for honoring those who have given so much.”
Disney’s collaborative relationship began with the Fisher House Foundation in 2016 at the Invictus Games Orlando. Since then it has continued to work together in multiple new ways. This includes a collaboration with the Fisher House team on the 2022 Department of Defense Warrior Games, the eighth Veterans Institute Summit held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in August of 2022 and so much more.
Through it all, Disney continues to show its commitment to current active duty military service members and their families along with veterans. This is a commitment that has been embedded in The Walt Disney Company since its founding in 1923. Both Walt Disney and Roy O. Disney gave service to the United States of America during World War I. Over a century later, Disney is a leading proponent of hiring, training and supporting military veterans through the Heroes Work Here initiative, the Heroes Supply Here program and Disney’s Veterans Institute.
Disney regularly shows its commitment to not only supporting members of the military and veterans, but also honoring them. There are multiple initiatives that do this at a company level. At Disneyland and Magic Kingdom, the daily Patriotic Flag Retreat also honors them as they retire the flag until the rising of the new dawn. Active military members and veterans are invited to be honored by standing around the flag during this special ceremony. Disney has also been named the Military Times 2023 “Best for Vets.” This is an annual ranking of the country’s best employers and organizations with military-connected employment programs.
Since 2012, Disney has contributed over $20 million in both funding and media support to nonprofit organizations that are focused on bringing joy to veterans and military families. Disney also welcomes the Department of Defense Warrior Games back to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort from June 21-30, 2024. These were hosted her previously in 2022.
To learn more about how Disney continues to support military families and veterans, visit this website: https://impact.disney.com/charitable-giving/veterans-and-military-families/.
What do you think of Disney’s efforts to support military families and veterans? What do you think of its collaboration with Fisher Houses? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
