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Disneyland Connects with its Community

Disneyland has released it’s “2007 Connecting with Our Community” report. It details the over $12 million in cash, in-kind donations, and volunteer service that the Disneyland Resort team has contributed and examples of some of the tens of thousands of individuals they’ve helped. Anyway you look at it that’s no Mickey Mouse contribution. Congrats to everyone at Disneyland Resort for this wonderful showing of how much you care.

Please visit www.disneyland.com/publicaffairs to download a copy of the report.

The full press release is below the cut:

Disneyland Resort Highlights Strong Connections and Partnerships in Community Report.

Resort donates more than $12 million in 2007, providing support to tens of thousands of individuals and families in Southern California

ANAHEIM, Calif. – April 17, 2008 – The Disneyland Resort has published its 2007 community report entitled “Connecting with Our Community,” which highlights the vital connection between the Resort, and the people and communities it serves in Southern California. The report details the many contributions of the Disneyland Resort and its Cast Members, including more than $12 million in cash, in-kind donations and volunteer service that touched the lives of tens of thousands of individuals.

“The Disneyland Resort has a strong legacy of being part of the fabric of this community,” said Ed Grier, Disneyland Resort president. “We are so proud to be able to give back as a company – and I am particularly proud of our Cast Members, who donate their time and resources to a variety of causes, and spent more than 94,000 hours helping others last year.”

In 2007, the Disneyland Resort reached out to the community by providing assistance to more than 9,400 non-profit organizations in Southern California. The commitment to help those in need and to support individuals and families in various ways is evident through the involvement of Cast Members across the Resort:

  • Cast Members adopted more than 1,300 individuals, including 92 families.
  • The blood donated at the annual Disneyland Resort drive will save 5,340 lives.
  • Disneyland Resort donated $8 million of in-kind merchandise and equipment.
  • Disney VoluntEARS completed 123 projects throughout Orange County.
  • Disneyland Resort executives served on the boards of 29 community non-profit organizations.
  • Children with life-threatening illnesses were granted 563 “wishes” at the Disney Wish Lounge.

One of the strongest testaments to this company-wide community focus is the effort that was made to assist victims of the 2007 wildfires that ravaged Southern California. In addition to the $2 million in aid that was granted by The Walt Disney Company, Disneyland Resort Cast Members donated almost 5,000 pounds of non-perishable food and water to those affected by the fires. Disney VoluntEARS traveled to ten shelters across San Diego, Riverside, Orange and San Bernardino counties with Disney characters in tow to play with children and visit with seniors who had been displaced.

The report also provides details about the many community and business-based partnerships that have been established by the Disneyland Resort. One example is Family Volunteer Day, which unites volunteers from the Disneyland Resort, Wells Fargo, Ingram Micro, KPMG, Broadcom and others to prepare boxes of food for nearly 15,000 senior citizens the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

As the largest employer in Orange County and one that provides job opportunities to more than 20,000 people, the Disneyland Resort is strongly committed to educating and training its workforce. The report highlights programs such as “Global Strategies for Diversity and Inclusion” and “Emerging Leaders” that show why working for the Disneyland Resort can be a positive, life-changing experience.

The report also showcases the Resort’s recent efforts on environmental issues. In 2007, the Disneyland Railroad, a legendary Disneyland attraction, began using B98 biodiesel fuel which could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 80 percent. The new Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage attraction, located at Disneyland park, also uses zero-emission vehicles and eliminates the use of hundreds of thousands of gallons of diesel fuel each year.

To see additional details of Disneyland Resort community involvement or to obtain a copy of “2007 Connecting with Our Community,” please visit www.disneyland.com/publicaffairs.