PDA

View Full Version : Walt Disney World Give a Day, Get a Day! Celebration



MousePlanet AutoPoster
02-11-2010, 11:50 AM
PEOPLE WANT TO VOLUNTEER
Organizations have seen a dramatic increase in volunteer efforts during the past few years. People of all ages have made a conscious effort to get out and do more, especially intheir local area.



Since 2007, the number of people working to fix a community problem has risen 31 percent – a substantial amount – further benefitting local communities especially during the current economy, according to Volunteering in America 2009.

A FAMILY THAT VOLUNTEERS TOGETHER …
Spending time together is usually always a priority for families – and many parents are using this time to set an example for their children.



More parents than single adults (68 percent vs. 55 percent) plan to volunteer in some way in 2010, according to a survey conducted by New York-based Kelton Research in November 2009.
Approximately five out of six (84 percent) moms surveyed would like their children involved in youth volunteer activities, according to the 2008 Quaker Youth Volunteerism Report.
In fact, Just Kid. Inc. reports 37 percent of kids, 44 percent of tweens and 46 percent of teens would volunteer more if given the opportunity.
Young adults (ages 16-24) are helping lead the way in volunteerism – with more than 441,000 young volunteers in 2008 versus 2007, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Youth today believe it is essential and “very important” to help others in need, the report also found.

WHO BENEFITS FROM VOLUNTEER EFFORTS?
Nonprofits were especially helped by those who contributed their efforts in 2008, and planned to increase their reliance on volunteers in 2009. Additionally, local communities are reaping the ongoing benefits of these added helping hands.

Between September 2008 and March 2009, more than a third (37 percent) of nonprofit organizations planned to increase the number of volunteers they used, and almost half (48 percent) expected an increase in 2009, according to a national survey of nonprofit organizations.
Parents also are noticing the benefits of volunteering at home. Family volunteerism is a hands-on way to teach children the values of kindness, compassion, tolerance, community responsibility and good citizenship. Additionally, family volunteerism helps mobilize thousands of new volunteers and instills the next generation with a lifelong commitment to volunteering.
Moms have identified respect (88 percent), teamwork (87 percent) and compassion (85 percent) as the positive traits that a young volunteer develops when helping others, according to the 2008 Quaker Youth Volunteerism Report.

AMERICANS’ GOALS FOR 2010
Volunteerism has seen a surge of interest in recent years – in fact, almost 60 percent of all Americans would rather resolve to give back by volunteering in 2010, according to the New York-based Kelton Research survey from November 2009.



More women than men (62 percent vs. 54 percent) include volunteering as a 2010 goal.
When asked what Americans anticipate they could accomplish in 2010, 30 percent selected volunteering as a foreseeable goal.

HANDSON NETWORK’S VOLUNTEERISM EFFORTS
HandsOn Network, the volunteer-focused arm of Points of Light Institute, is an international nonprofit organization whose core mission is to inspire, equip and mobilize people to take action that changes the world.



The organization has more than 250 Action Centers (local affiliates) serving 83 percent of the American population and 12 international communities.
HandsOn reported a 43 percent increase in volunteers registering in 2009 and a 58 percent increase in people signing up for new volunteer opportunities.
The first six months of 2009 saw a 29 percent increase in the unique opportunities available for volunteers, compared to the same period in 2008.
Collectively, it is estimated that 30.4 million total service hours were completed by volunteers engaged by HandsOn Network in 2008, according to findings from the 2008 Annual Affiliate Report.

POPULAR WAYS TO LEND A HAND
Through HandsOn Network affiliates, those looking to donate their time have a variety of unique volunteer service opportunities to choose from – whether it’s disaster relief and environmental causes to seniors, children/youth and community enrichment programs. Below are examples of opportunities available through the HandsOn Network affiliates located throughout the country:



Help package donations at a food pantry
Plant, weed and tend a community garden
Participate in a local community clothing or toy drive
Visit nursing homes to play games, make crafts or share talents with senior residents
Read books to children at a local daycare center
Assemble backpacks with school supplies for under-resourced schools

DISNEY’S VOLUNTEARS ‘SPREAD THE MAGIC’
Volunteerism has been a part of the Disney culture for more than a quarter century, encouraging cast members to dedicate their time through Disney Parks’ VoluntEARS program.



Launched in 1983, Disney VoluntEARS have donated 5.5 million+ hours of service.


-30-

NEWS MEDIA CONTACTS:
Walt Disney World Public Relations – 407/566-6397
Media-only news site: www.wdwnews.com (http://www.wdwnews.com/)

Disneyland Resort Public Relations – 714/781-4500
Media-only news site: www.disneylandnews.com (http://www.disneylandnews.com/)







VOLUNTEERFACTSHEET/2-3-10/rev:2-3


More... (http://wdwnews.com/viewpressrelease.aspx?pressreleaseid=114561&siteid=1)

MousePlanet AutoPoster
02-11-2010, 11:50 AM
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – To dramatize the spirit of giving, Walt Disney World Resort on Thursday (Feb. 11, 2010) unveiled a mammoth wall of canned goods – destined as a donation to food banks in Orlando, Miami and Atlanta. Here are some fun facts about the sculpture:
· A team made up of Disney VoluntEARS and project leaders devoted more than 500 “man hours” over a four-day period to construct the sculpture.
· Tens of thousands of cans of food – plus assorted boxes and bags of food items – were used in the sculpture, anchored by a larger-than-life Goofy, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Pluto.
· Mickey’s famous head was shaped from cans of black olives, and cans of sliced pineapple made up Pluto’s eyes. Containers of Atlantic salmon were used to construct a portion of Goofy’s face while cans of tuna made up Donald’s hat. Common to each character: pupils made from pans of popcorn.
· If all the cans making up the sculpture were stacked on top of one another, the topmost can would be more than a mile above the 29,035-foot summit of Mt. Everest.
· The sculpture contains approximately 44 tons of food – everything from albacore tuna and apricot halves to spaghetti, stewed tomatoes and mixed vegetables – destined to become more than 70,000 meals for the needy.
· Guinness World Records, the universally recognized authority on record-breaking achievement, on Thursday authenticated the structure as the Largest Canned Food Structure ever created. The previous record for a can sculpture was 54,527 cans, set in June 2009 in New Zealand, Guiness said.
· Following a “Kodak moment,” the sculpture was to be disassembled Thursday afternoon – a process expected to take approximately six hours and involve as many as 200 people led by 25 Disney VoluntEARS and project leaders.


More... (http://wdwnews.com/viewpressrelease.aspx?pressreleaseid=114556&siteid=1)

MousePlanet AutoPoster
02-11-2010, 11:50 AM
More... (http://wdwnews.com/viewvideo.aspx?videoid=114573&siteid=1)

MousePlanet AutoPoster
02-11-2010, 11:50 AM
Canned Goods Set a Guinness World Record, Ship to Food Banks


LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Feb. 11, 2010) –Against the backdrop of a world-record sculpture of canned goods destined for food banks, Disney Parks officials on Thursday announced a major milestone with the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program, a first-of-its-kind effort to help inspire 1 million people to perform volunteer service.

Since the program’s launch only six weeks ago, more than 600,000 people in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada have volunteered or signed up for volunteer projects in their communities, announced Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

“With the launch of our ‘Give a Day, Get a Disney Day’ program, we hoped to spark something truly special,” Staggs said. “But even we have been overwhelmed with the response.”

To recognize their good deeds, in 2010 Disney Parks is celebrating those who volunteer through the program by giving them a free one-day admission to either a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort theme park. Volunteers can start the search and sign-up process by going to www.disneyparks.com (http://www.disneyparks.com/).

HandsOn Network, the volunteer-focused arm of Points of Light Institute and the largest volunteer network in the nation, is supporting the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program by connecting volunteers with projects.

According to Michelle Nunn, co-founder of HandsOn Network and CEO of Points of Light Institute, 10,000 community organizations, through the Disney Parks program, are getting the volunteers they need to meet important community challenges.

“The level of volunteerism we have seen in the first weeks of 2010 is tracking to new highs,” she said. “Our dream at HandsOn Network is for everyone to recognize their power to make a difference. Disney is helping us make that dream a reality, a million times over.”

Since the launch of the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program on Jan. 1, 2010, volunteers have trekked through wetlands near Long Beach, Calif., and through mountain preserves in Phoenix, Ariz., clearing away non-native vegetation. A continent away, volunteers have whisked away trash on Atlantic Coast beaches in Brevard County and Dade County, Fla. In Port Huron, Mich., “soccer families” have picked up paint brushes to help spruce up a community center. In Atlanta, Ga., volunteers have assisted hospitalized children as they create arts and crafts projects. And with the forecast for a cold night ahead, the homeless in Central Florida were handed blankets by caring volunteers.

In addition to celebrating the “Give A Day, Get a Disney Day” program, Disney Parks welcomed to Walt Disney World Resort Thursday other outstanding volunteer families from the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada who gave back to their communities in special ways, as part of Disney’s celebration of family volunteerism in 2010.

“Today we are here to celebrate you,” Staggs told the families. “With each of your efforts, you make a difference.”

Canned-Food Structure Unveiled, Verified Largest-Ever by Guinness World Records®

As part of the event celebrating family volunteers and to dramatize the spirit of giving, Walt Disney World Resort on Thursday unveiled a mammoth structure of canned goods – food that will be donated to food banks in Orlando, Miami and Atlanta.

The canned food sculpture – titled “Celebrate Volunteers” – was revealed for media and guests at Epcot. Disney VoluntEARS shaped the sculpture with a larger-than-life Goofy, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Pluto – all sculpted out of cans. Goofy’s trademark hat consisted of cans of bread crumbs, for instance. Mickey’s famous head was shaped from cans of black olives, and cans of sliced pineapple made up Pluto’s eyes.

The cans represent approximately 70,000 meals, according to Dave Krepcho, president/CEO of Second Harvest of Central Florida. “Each can makes a difference in someone’s life who cannot afford this food,” he said. “Much of this food goes to children in need, working moms trying to provide, senior citizens coping on fixed incomes and people whose disabilities keep them from working.”

The spectacular, character-themed structure – consisting officially of 115,527 cans – was also a world record, according to Guinness World Records, the internationally recognized authority on record-breaking achievement. Guinness World Records Thursday authenticated the achievement as the Largest Canned Food Structure ever created, easily eclipsing the previous record of 54,527 cans set in June 2009 in New Zealand.

Some volunteer families also shared star billing Thursday with stars of the Disney Channel and Disney XD. As part of Disney’s youth environmental movement, Friends for Change: Project Green (www.Disney.com/ProjectGreen (http://www.disney.com/ProjectGreen)), Joe Jonas, Demi Lovato and others joined the celebration, making special appearances throughout the day to show what’s possible when kids and families get together and volunteer to help the planet.

Give a Day, Get a Disney Day details:
Must pre-register and sign up for eligible volunteer opportunity at disneyparks.com. Ticket quantities for this program are limited. Must be at least age 6 to participate. One ticket per person. Other terms and conditions apply. For details, see disneyparks.com in the United States and Puerto Rico. In Canada, see disneyparks.ca.



-30-

DAYOFRELEASEGDDPR/2-10-10


More... (http://wdwnews.com/viewpressrelease.aspx?pressreleaseid=114554&siteid=1)

MousePlanet AutoPoster
02-11-2010, 11:50 AM
http://wdwnews.com/assets/\images/thumbl/KERMIT NUNN AND STAGGS 148699204.jpg (http://wdwnews.com/viewimage.aspx?imageid=114567&siteid=1)CELEBRATE VOLUNTEERS: Michelle Nunn (left), co-founder of HandsOn Network and CEO of the Points of Light Institute, and Tom Staggs (right), chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, pose Feb. 11, 2010 with Kermit the Frog at Epcot theme park in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Pennington and Kermit were at Walt Disney World for a special event to celebrate the Disney Parks "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" program. Those who volunteer through the program in 2010 will receive a free one-day admission to either a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort theme park. Since the launch of the initiative on Jan. 1, 2010, more than 600,000 people in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada have volunteered or signed up for community volunteer projects. (Gene Duncan, photographer)

More... (http://wdwnews.com/viewimage.aspx?imageid=114567&siteid=1)

MousePlanet AutoPoster
02-11-2010, 11:50 AM
http://wdwnews.com/assets/\images/thumbl/KERMIT AND STAGGS 150354277.jpg (http://wdwnews.com/viewimage.aspx?imageid=114571&siteid=1)VOLUNTEER FUN: Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, chats Feb. 11, 2010 with Kermit the Frog at Epcot in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. during a special event to celebrate the Disney Parks "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" program. Working with HandsOn Network, Disney Parks hopes to help inspire 1 million people to perform volunteer service. Those who volunteer through the program in 2010 will receive a free one-day admission to either a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort theme park. Since the launch of the initiative on Jan. 1, 2010, more than 600,000 people in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada have volunteered or signed up for community volunteer projects. (Gene Duncan, photographer)

More... (http://wdwnews.com/viewimage.aspx?imageid=114571&siteid=1)

MousePlanet AutoPoster
02-11-2010, 11:50 AM
http://wdwnews.com/assets/\images/thumbl/NEW WORLD RECORD AT DISNEY 152624454.jpg (http://wdwnews.com/viewimage.aspx?imageid=114572&siteid=1)CAN-DO SPIRIT: This photo taken Feb. 10, 2010 at Epcot in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. shows the new world record-setting sculpture made up of 115,527 canned goods. The structure, featuring three-dimensional representations of Disney characters and a "Celebrate Volunteers" message, was unveiled in a ceremony Feb. 11, 2010 during a special event for Disney Parks new "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" volunteer initiative. The sculpture was authenticated by Guinness World Records as a new world record for canned food structures. The canned goods, representing approximately 70,000 meals, are being donated to food banks in Orlando, Fla., Miami and Atlanta. (Garth Vaughan, photographer)

More... (http://wdwnews.com/viewimage.aspx?imageid=114572&siteid=1)

MousePlanet AutoPoster
02-11-2010, 11:50 AM
http://wdwnews.com/assets/\images/thumbl/DISNEY VOLUNTEER EVENT 147391391.jpg (http://wdwnews.com/viewimage.aspx?imageid=114566&siteid=1)A CAN-DO SPIRIT!: (L-R): Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts; Michelle Nunn, co-founder of HandsOn Network and CEO of the Points of Light Institute; and Ty Pennington, host of the ABC-TV series "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," pose at Epcot in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. on Feb. 11, 2010 with Mickey Mouse and Goofy in front of a sculpture made up of 115,527 canned goods. The canned food structure, featuring Disney characters and a "Celebrate Volunteers" message, was unveiled during a special event for Disney Parks new "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" volunteer initiative. The canned goods in the sculpture represent more than 70,000 meals and will be donated to food banks in Orlando, Fla., Miami and Atlanta. The sculpture was authenticated by Guinness World Records as a new world record for canned food structures. To recognize their good deeds, in 2010 Disney Parks is celebrating those who volunteer through the program by giving them a free one-day admission to either a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort theme park. Volunteers can start the search and sign-up process by going to www.disneyparks.com. (Gene Duncan, photographer)

More... (http://wdwnews.com/viewimage.aspx?imageid=114566&siteid=1)