Disneyland Resort Public Affairs

Disneyland Resort Names 2013 VoluntEARS of the Year

WALTJ028 — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:36:41 +0000

Disneyland Resort Names 2013 VoluntEARS of the Year

Celebration in Disney California Adventure Park Salutes 30 years of Disney VoluntEARS Program

ANAHEIM, Calif. May 1, 2013 – The Disneyland Resort announced its 2013 VoluntEAR of the Year and VoluntEAR Team of the Year today at a Disney VoluntEARS 30^th anniversary recognition ceremony held in Stage 17 at Disney California Adventure park. Hundreds of Disney VoluntEARS in attendance congratulated the recipients and were recognized by Disneyland Resort President and fellow Disney VoluntEAR Michael Colglazier for 30 years of commitment to helping charitable organizations.

“I am so proud of our Disney VoluntEARS for all that they have done for our community,” said Michael Colglazier, president of the Disneyland Resort. “It is very gratifying to see their passion, their generosity and their limitless energy reaching beyond the berm of our Resort to the organizations and families who need them most.”

Jon Storbeck, vice president of Disneyland park, was named 2013 VoluntEAR of the Year. Storbeck, a 30-year cast member, has volunteered since he began his career at the Disneyland Resort. He helped lead the original Disneyland Community Action Team, which would eventually become the Disney VoluntEARS. For six years, Storbeck was a board member for Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire, and served as chairman his final two years. He also helped spearhead the chapter’s “Walk for Wishes” and encouraged cast member participation in the Walk which raised more than $215,000 in 2013. In addition, he participates in multiple other philanthropic endeavors, including Disney-sponsored KaBOOM! playground builds, the annual CHOC/Disneyland Resort Walk in the Park, and supporting the Resort’s Toys for Tots toy drive.

The 2013 VoluntEAR Team of the Year title was presented to the Disney VoluntEARS Leadership Council, composed of 45 cast members from various lines of business who meet monthly to review, coordinate, and lead about 160 Disney VoluntEARS projects each year. They also bring awareness of the Disney VoluntEARS program to their respective divisions and business units.

The recipients were presented with an award and a $2,500 charitable contribution from The Walt Disney Company toward a nonprofit organization of their choice. Colglazier presented the awards, along with Mickey Mouse and Disney Ambassadors Sachiko White and Megan Navarette. Also in attendance were 10 local nonprofit organizations, each hosting a service project and providing information for Disney VoluntEARS to get more involved.

The Disney VoluntEARS program began at the Disneyland Resort in 1983. Today, there are Disney VoluntEARS around the world making a difference in more than 40 countries. Over the past 30 years, they have contributed more than 7.5 million hours of community service.

Ten Orange County High School Students Receive Disneyland Resort Scholarships

WALTJ028 — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:54:20 +0000

The Disneyland Resort celebrated volunteerism this month when it recognized 10 exceptional Orange County students with $75,000 in scholarships for their leadership, academic excellence and contributions to the community. Each student received a $7,500 scholarship to use toward pursuing his or her future education goals. Since the program’s inception in 2005, the Disneyland Resort has granted more than $425,000 in scholarships to graduating high school seniors.

“The Disneyland Resort is proud to recognize these exemplary students for their commitment to excellence and their passion for serving others,” said Michael Colglazier, president of the Disneyland Resort. “We look forward to their continued success and development as our leaders of tomorrow.”

The recipients of the 2012-2013 Disneyland Resort scholarship program are:

Carlos Castellanos – attends Katella High School; volunteers at Discovery Science Center of OC
Alicia Frausto – attends Katella High School; volunteers at Los Niños de la Calle con Wendy Foundation
Gabrielle Gregory – attends El Toro High School; volunteers at Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation
Homin Kwark – attends Northwood High School; volunteers at Imagiscience
Nathaniel Lam – attends Troy High School; volunteers at Youth Leadership America
Michael Salmond – attends Villa Park High School; volunteers at St. Joseph’s Hospital
Robert Santaella – attends San Juan Hills High School; volunteers at Anaheim Police Activities League
Katya Sutil – attends Oxford Academy; volunteers at Youth Leadership America
Kathy Tran – attends Los Amigos High School; volunteers at the Orange County Human Relations Council
Michelle Tran – attends Valencia High School; volunteers at CHOC Foundation

Harrison “Buzz” Price Honored in Window Dedication Ceremony

WALTJ028 — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:52:41 +0000

Harrison “Buzz” Price, research economist and one of Walt Disney’s most trusted advisors, was honored posthumously with a window on Main Street, U.S.A. on April 9. In a ceremony hosted by Tom Staggs, chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, and Michael Colglazier, president, Disneyland Resort, family, friends and fellow Disney Legends remembered Price for the key role he played in Disney history.

“Buzz Price was a true Disney Legend in every sense of the word, whose extraordinary contributions left a lasting mark on The Walt Disney Company that few can match,” said Staggs. “In addition to helping Walt select the locations for both Disneyland and the Walt Disney World Resort, Buzz played a significant role in virtually every project that has made Disney Parks an iconic institution.”

Orange County Schools Receive Disneyland CREATE Grants

WALTJ028 — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:51:48 +0000

As part of an ongoing commitment to invest in creativity through arts education, the Disneyland Resort funded more than 350 visual and performing arts projects this school year through its Disneyland CREATE Grants program. The Disneyland Resort donated more than $140,000 in classroom grants to inspire creativity in nearly 75,000 Orange County students. Since 1994, the program has contributed more than $1.5 million in needed classroom funding.

More than a dozen Anaheim elementary to high schools benefited from the program, including Paul Revere Elementary, which received 14 grants to fund a variety of arts projects, from Egyptian hieroglyphics to models of the solar system.

Allen Fazio Named 2013 Outstanding Board Member by CHOC Children’s Foundation

WALTJ028 — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:51:02 +0000

Allen Fazio, vice president of information technology at the Disneyland Resort, was recognized with a Charley Award for Outstanding Board Member of the Year by CHOC Children’s Foundation on April 16 at its annual Circle of Friends celebration. The Charley Awards honor individuals and organizations who exemplify CHOC supporter Charley Hester’s ideals of philanthropy and volunteerism in service to CHOC Children’s.

Fazio has served on CHOC Children’s Foundation’s board of directors since 2006, and currently is vice chair. He also serves as chair of its corporate partnerships committee, and is a driving force in CHOC’s close partnership with the Disneyland Resort. He was honored for his exceptional leadership skills and generosity of both his time and personal contribution toward the Change CHOC, Change the World campaign.

The Walt Disney Company Releases Citizenship Performance Summary

WALTJ028 — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:49:28 +0000

The Walt Disney Company released a citizenship performance summary measuring a mix of 65 short-, medium-, and long-term targets, reflecting a shift from a “report” to an ongoing “reporting” of citizenship efforts. The specific, quantifiable targets measure progress in a variety of citizenship areas, from reducing environmental impact to ensuring respectful workplaces and encouraging volunteerism.

Along with the summary, The Walt Disney Company will publish stories, policies, and other performance-related information on its website throughout the year to provide richer context about its work in the citizenship environment. To view the performance summary, visit http://thewaltdisneycompany.com/citizenship/reporting.

Every Role, A Starring Role: Horticulture Planner

WALTJ028 — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:47:21 +0000

Our Leaders in the Community

WALTJ028 — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:44:46 +0000

Along with fellow Disney VoluntEARS, I helped plant a new herb and vegetable garden at Brea Olinda High School on April 20 with local Boys and Girls Clubs for Earth Month, in partnership with the school’s Disney Friends for Change Club and Inside the Outdoors Foundation. It’s the latest in a series of school and community gardens that the Disneyland Resort is sponsoring in the local community, as part of the Disney Magic of Healthy Living initiative. Disney VoluntEARS have participated in six school and community gardens so far, where we build raised garden beds, haul soil, and plant alongside local students and community members. It has been so rewarding to see the pride and appreciation the schools and communities have for their new gardens, and especially fun to watch the kids and families decorate their gardens with painted rocks and mosaic stepping stones that they created themselves!

Along with being a member of the Disney VoluntEARS Leadership Council, I am also on the board of directors at Inside the Outdoors Foundation. Inside the Outdoors (ITO) is part of the Children & Nature Network (also a Disney partner) and provides outdoor and environmental science education to more than 150,000 children and community members annually.

Most of our students are from underserved communities where scholarship support from generous donors enables them to participate. Our partnership with the Disneyland Resort to build gardens is just one example of the many innovative ways we are connecting children and families to nature so that they can be healthier, happier, and smarter!

Learn more about ITO at http://ito.ocde.us/home.htm.

Manny Kiesser
Systems & Metrics Manager
Disneyland Resort

Ten Orange County High School Students Receive Scholarships for Excellence in Community Service, Academics and Leadership

WALTJ028 — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:38:37 +0000

ANAHEIM, Calif. April 18, 2013 – The Disneyland Resort celebrated volunteerism this week when it recognized 10 exceptional Orange County students with $75,000 in scholarships for their leadership, academic excellence and contributions to the community. Since the inception of the program in 2005, the Disneyland Resort has granted more than $425,000 in scholarships to graduating Orange County high school seniors. Each student will receive a $7,500 scholarship to use toward pursuing his or her future education goals.

This week, the 10 selected students were surprised at their schools by a “prize patrol” led by Disney Ambassador Megan Navarette. The scholarship recipients were congratulated with a certificate, balloon bouquet, a Mickey Mouse themed award piece, and a Mickey mortar board hat. They will also receive an opportunity to attend a Disney Youth Education Series leadership development course and an invitation to participate in a Disney VoluntEARS project where they will help build a community garden.

Carlos Castellanos, who attends Katella High School, is one of this year’s scholarship recipients. Castenallos volunteers regularly at the Discovery Science Center of Orange County. He also launched a program at his high school to help students be more prepared for college.

“I volunteer because I believe it can have a profound impact in someone’s life and also because I want to change the community I live in for the better,” said Castellanos. “I enjoy it because seeing the smile or satisfaction someone feels because of something I did for them is worth more to me than anything else.”

The recipients of the 2012-2013 Disneyland Resort Scholarship Program are:

Carlos Castellanos – attends Katella High School (Anaheim Union High School District); volunteers at Discovery Science Center of OC

Alicia Frausto – attends Katella High School (Anaheim Union High School District); volunteers at Los Niños de la Calle con Wendy Foundation

Gabrielle Gregory - attends El Toro High School (Saddleback Valley Unified School District); volunteers at Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation

Homin Kwark – attends Northwood High School (Irvine Unified School District); volunteers at Imagiscience

Nathaniel Lam – attends Troy High School (Fullerton Joint Union High School District); volunteers at Youth Leadership America

Michael Salmond – attends Villa Park High School (Orange Unified School District); volunteers at St. Joseph’s Hospital

Robert Santaella – attends San Juan Hills High School (Capistrano Unified School District); volunteers at Anaheim Police Activities League

Katya Sutil – attends Oxford Academy (Anaheim Union High School District); volunteers at Youth Leadership America

Kathy Tran – attends Los Amigos High School (Garden Grove Unified School District); volunteers at the Orange County Human Relations Council

Michelle Tran – attends Valencia High School (Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District); volunteers at CHOC Foundation

More than 200 applications were received and reviewed. The top 20 applicants were interviewed by a distinguished panel of community leaders who selected the 10 college-bound students who would receive the scholarships. The judges included:

Wendy Arciero – Director of Community Relations, Anaheim Ducks

Ruben Franco – CEO, Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Reginald Gilyard – Dean, The George L. Argyros School of Business and Economics at Chapman University

Rusty Kennedy – Executive Director, OC Human Relations

Cheryl Kisob – Manager – Disney Worldwide Outreach, The Walt Disney Company

Dan McQuaid – President/CEO, One OC

Mark Merhab – Chairman, Angels Baseball Foundation

Tam Nguyen – President, Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce of Orange County

Rena Puebla – Event Planner, Coast Concierge Service, Inc.

Bill Taormina – Owner, Clean City

Amanda Wong – Co-President and Director, PharmSC Clinic

Julie Wong – Director of Corporate Citizenship, The Walt Disney Company

The Walt Disney Company Surpasses Veterans Hiring Goal, Sets New One

WALTJ028 — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 17:01:31 +0000

Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger recently announced a new goal for The Walt Disney Company to hire an additional 1,000 veterans over the next two years through its Heroes Work Here initiative. The Walt Disney Company surpassed its original goal to provide 1,000 career opportunities for returning U.S. service men and women over a three-year period – hiring more than 1,300 veterans in just one year.

“At our last shareholders meeting we announced a company-wide effort to support U.S. veterans and military families, including launching a public service campaign to raise awareness of the tremendous value veterans can bring to any company,” Iger said at the 2013 annual meeting of shareholders. “Here is our newest public service message showing that we are very proud to have heroes work at Disney.”