I get these emails from WDW...I thought I would share.
August 26, 2004
Over the past two weeks, we have all heard amazing stories of despair and humanity. The destruction left in the wake of Hurricane Charley united our community with people in every corner of Central Florida coming together to help in a time of need. I have been particularly proud of the selfless efforts by our Cast and Company during this time. While our resort was saved from significant damage, more than a thousand of our Cast Members have been personally impacted by the storm, and the Cast and Company continue to come together to provide support. The Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney World Co., and our Cast have been generous, providing more than $2 million to date in direct financial relief to hundreds of our Cast Members who have experienced catastrophic losses. While our resort has recovered quickly from the storm, we remain focused on helping our most valued asset - our Cast.
Hurricane Relief is Far Reaching for Disney Cast and Community
In an effort to assist Central Florida families and Cast Members impacted by Hurricane Charley, The Walt Disney Company and Walt Disney World Co. have spent the past two weeks establishing and implementing programs to provide both physical and financial support. This support will be ongoing, but current efforts include:
Financial Support - DisneyHand, worldwide outreach for The Walt Disney Company quickly made a $100,000 donation to the American Red Cross and Heart of Florida United Way. Two Cast Member relief programs, Disney Operation Care and the Cast Member Hurricane Relief Fund, have been established and have distributed more than $2 million in payments up to $5,000 each to date.
Helping Hands - Cast Members have pitched in to distribute 120,000 pounds of free ice, hot meals, and manpower to fellow Cast Members in need of assistance.
Comforts of Home - For Cast Members whose homes were destroyed or uninhabitable, we provided more than 430 complimentary rooms at Walt Disney World® Resort hotels. We also offered discounted rooms to another 1,700 Cast Members who lost power or other utilities. Shower and laundry facilities have also been offered.
Food Supplies - Walt Disney World Co. is conducting a property-wide food drive for the Second Harvest Food Bank. In addition, 600 meals were delivered last week to crews working on relief efforts throughout the community.
Community Help - Teams of workers armed with chain saws spent last week in various communities clearing debris. These crews were on loan from Buena Vista Construction Company and Walt Disney World Co. and were dispatched to remove trees blocking roadways. Their work allowed the City of Orlando and Orange County to get traffic flowing in several areas.
Childcare Solutions - Walt Disney World® Resort day care centers usually reserved for guests were opened to Cast Members last week as schools across the area were closed due to storm damage. Several hundred Walt Disney World Cast Member children spent last week at one of the day care centers located inside the resort properties. The new Central Florida YMCA Family Centers at Walt Disney World also proved to be a great resource. The center, which opened on August 1 to serve the needs of the Cast went into overdrive providing back-up care for working parents who were unable to find last minute care options for their children.
Florida Teachers Get Resources and Tools from Disney
This Saturday, Walt Disney World Co. will host hundreds of educators from Central Florida for an opportunity to hear top youth development speakers discuss ways to help children in our community thrive at school and at home. The second Disney's Helping Kids Shine Symposium For Educators will take place at Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resort Convention Center. Educators from more than 400 schools in Orange, Osceola, Lake, Polk, Seminole, and Central Brevard counties have been invited to the free seminar.
Boys and Girls Club Get Day at Disney
Walt Disney World Co. recently hosted more than 100 children from the Pine Hills branch of the Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida as part of the National KidsDay celebration. The National KidsDay Celebration effort is led by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America in partnership with numerous associations including the American Zoo & Aquarium Association (AZA). As an accredited AZA institution, members of Disney's Animal Kingdom® Animal Programs led our effort.
Elephant Calf Makes Animal Kingdom Savannah Debut
Kianga, the newest member of Disney's Animal Kingdom African elephant herd, is enjoying her public debut in her new habitat on the savannah. Kianga was born on July 6. At birth, she weighed 190 pounds and was 33 inches tall. She is currently adding about one pound per day and currently weighs 284 pounds.
Football Rivalry to Stay at Walt Disney World
The Walt Disney World Resort will remain home to the heated annual gridiron battle between Florida A&M University and Bethune-Cookman College. The Walt Disney World Florida Classic, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, will have Disney as the title sponsor through 2005. Since becoming involved with the game in 1997, Walt Disney World Co. has contributed more than $1.3 million to the two schools. The Walt Disney World Florida Classic has emerged as the nation's largest black college football showcase.
Disney Cruise Line Recognized for Quality and Top Service
In its August 2004 "World's Best" issue, Travel & Leisure magazine ranked Disney Cruise Line fourth in its top-ten list of large cruise lines. Also, AAA Travel presented Disney Cruise Line and Walt Disney Travel Company for AAA vacations with two out of its three Preferred Partner of the Year awards this summer. According to AAA Travel, the top award goes to outstanding companies that provide high-quality products and superior customer service. Click here for details.
Disney Recognized for Accessibility Achievements
The Walt Disney World Resort has been honored by the New Freedom Foundation for its proactive approach to providing services for guests with disabilities. The resort received the Best New Ability Product or Technology Award for innovative ride accessibility. Engineers designed a special wheelchair lift for the Jungle Cruise attraction at Magic Kingdom® Park and a fold out load and unload wheelchair ramp for the Journey into Imagination with Figment attraction at Epcot®. Click here for details.
Tampa Bay Bucs Kickoff Season at Training Camp
The Tampa Bay Bucs conducted their third preseason training camp at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in mid-August. The Bucs welcomed many new faces to this year's camp, including running back Charlie Garner and future Hall of Fame wide receiver Tim Brown, both of whom were reunited with their former Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden. Bucs workouts were free and open to the public, and more than 25,000 fans visited the sports complex during the two weeks of camp.
ESPN The Weekend Draws Crowds of Fans
The Walt Disney World® Resort helped celebrate ESPN's 25th anniversary at the Disney-MGM Studios, July 31 - August 1. The first-of-its-kind fan event featured nearly 60 athletes and ESPN personalities in parades, talk shows, interactive game shows, and on-site broadcasts of ESPN programs. ESPN also offered an open audition for its hit reality show Dream Job. Dream Job begins its second season in September.
Student Reporters Cover Disney, Get Published in Sentinel
The Orlando Sentinel and Walt Disney World Media Relations created a summer high school sports journalism program that gave 10 students from across Central Florida the opportunity to learn about the journalism profession. Sentinel sports editors, columnists, and reporters served as mentors for the students as they covered weekly events at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex during the month of July.
Hess Sports Fields Grand Opening
Disney Sports Attractions unveiled its new Hess Sports Fields venue on August 9 in a special ceremony at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. The Hess Sports Fields, sponsored by Amerada Hess Corporation, feature 20 acres of new fields and diamonds and represents the first venue expansion in the eight-year history of the sports complex at the Walt Disney World Resort which hosts more than 170 annual events. At right, Reggie Williams, vice president of Disney Sports Attractions, Paul Brzezicki, director of retail sales for Amerada Hess, Lee Cockerell, executive vice president of operations for Walt Disney World Resort, and Kellen Winslow, the director of planning and new event development for Disney Sports Attractions, participate in a grand opening ceremony for the new Hess Sports Fields venue at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Click the photo at right to see a larger image.
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© Disney
MouseMail is a periodic news brief for Central Florida business, community and government leaders, produced by Walt Disney World Co. For information on Walt Disney World Resort hours, attractions and theme parks, please visit www.disneyworld.com.
August 26, 2004
Over the past two weeks, we have all heard amazing stories of despair and humanity. The destruction left in the wake of Hurricane Charley united our community with people in every corner of Central Florida coming together to help in a time of need. I have been particularly proud of the selfless efforts by our Cast and Company during this time. While our resort was saved from significant damage, more than a thousand of our Cast Members have been personally impacted by the storm, and the Cast and Company continue to come together to provide support. The Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney World Co., and our Cast have been generous, providing more than $2 million to date in direct financial relief to hundreds of our Cast Members who have experienced catastrophic losses. While our resort has recovered quickly from the storm, we remain focused on helping our most valued asset - our Cast.
Hurricane Relief is Far Reaching for Disney Cast and Community
In an effort to assist Central Florida families and Cast Members impacted by Hurricane Charley, The Walt Disney Company and Walt Disney World Co. have spent the past two weeks establishing and implementing programs to provide both physical and financial support. This support will be ongoing, but current efforts include:
Financial Support - DisneyHand, worldwide outreach for The Walt Disney Company quickly made a $100,000 donation to the American Red Cross and Heart of Florida United Way. Two Cast Member relief programs, Disney Operation Care and the Cast Member Hurricane Relief Fund, have been established and have distributed more than $2 million in payments up to $5,000 each to date.
Helping Hands - Cast Members have pitched in to distribute 120,000 pounds of free ice, hot meals, and manpower to fellow Cast Members in need of assistance.
Comforts of Home - For Cast Members whose homes were destroyed or uninhabitable, we provided more than 430 complimentary rooms at Walt Disney World® Resort hotels. We also offered discounted rooms to another 1,700 Cast Members who lost power or other utilities. Shower and laundry facilities have also been offered.
Food Supplies - Walt Disney World Co. is conducting a property-wide food drive for the Second Harvest Food Bank. In addition, 600 meals were delivered last week to crews working on relief efforts throughout the community.
Community Help - Teams of workers armed with chain saws spent last week in various communities clearing debris. These crews were on loan from Buena Vista Construction Company and Walt Disney World Co. and were dispatched to remove trees blocking roadways. Their work allowed the City of Orlando and Orange County to get traffic flowing in several areas.
Childcare Solutions - Walt Disney World® Resort day care centers usually reserved for guests were opened to Cast Members last week as schools across the area were closed due to storm damage. Several hundred Walt Disney World Cast Member children spent last week at one of the day care centers located inside the resort properties. The new Central Florida YMCA Family Centers at Walt Disney World also proved to be a great resource. The center, which opened on August 1 to serve the needs of the Cast went into overdrive providing back-up care for working parents who were unable to find last minute care options for their children.
Florida Teachers Get Resources and Tools from Disney
This Saturday, Walt Disney World Co. will host hundreds of educators from Central Florida for an opportunity to hear top youth development speakers discuss ways to help children in our community thrive at school and at home. The second Disney's Helping Kids Shine Symposium For Educators will take place at Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resort Convention Center. Educators from more than 400 schools in Orange, Osceola, Lake, Polk, Seminole, and Central Brevard counties have been invited to the free seminar.
Boys and Girls Club Get Day at Disney
Walt Disney World Co. recently hosted more than 100 children from the Pine Hills branch of the Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida as part of the National KidsDay celebration. The National KidsDay Celebration effort is led by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America in partnership with numerous associations including the American Zoo & Aquarium Association (AZA). As an accredited AZA institution, members of Disney's Animal Kingdom® Animal Programs led our effort.
Elephant Calf Makes Animal Kingdom Savannah Debut
Kianga, the newest member of Disney's Animal Kingdom African elephant herd, is enjoying her public debut in her new habitat on the savannah. Kianga was born on July 6. At birth, she weighed 190 pounds and was 33 inches tall. She is currently adding about one pound per day and currently weighs 284 pounds.
Football Rivalry to Stay at Walt Disney World
The Walt Disney World Resort will remain home to the heated annual gridiron battle between Florida A&M University and Bethune-Cookman College. The Walt Disney World Florida Classic, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, will have Disney as the title sponsor through 2005. Since becoming involved with the game in 1997, Walt Disney World Co. has contributed more than $1.3 million to the two schools. The Walt Disney World Florida Classic has emerged as the nation's largest black college football showcase.
Disney Cruise Line Recognized for Quality and Top Service
In its August 2004 "World's Best" issue, Travel & Leisure magazine ranked Disney Cruise Line fourth in its top-ten list of large cruise lines. Also, AAA Travel presented Disney Cruise Line and Walt Disney Travel Company for AAA vacations with two out of its three Preferred Partner of the Year awards this summer. According to AAA Travel, the top award goes to outstanding companies that provide high-quality products and superior customer service. Click here for details.
Disney Recognized for Accessibility Achievements
The Walt Disney World Resort has been honored by the New Freedom Foundation for its proactive approach to providing services for guests with disabilities. The resort received the Best New Ability Product or Technology Award for innovative ride accessibility. Engineers designed a special wheelchair lift for the Jungle Cruise attraction at Magic Kingdom® Park and a fold out load and unload wheelchair ramp for the Journey into Imagination with Figment attraction at Epcot®. Click here for details.
Tampa Bay Bucs Kickoff Season at Training Camp
The Tampa Bay Bucs conducted their third preseason training camp at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in mid-August. The Bucs welcomed many new faces to this year's camp, including running back Charlie Garner and future Hall of Fame wide receiver Tim Brown, both of whom were reunited with their former Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden. Bucs workouts were free and open to the public, and more than 25,000 fans visited the sports complex during the two weeks of camp.
ESPN The Weekend Draws Crowds of Fans
The Walt Disney World® Resort helped celebrate ESPN's 25th anniversary at the Disney-MGM Studios, July 31 - August 1. The first-of-its-kind fan event featured nearly 60 athletes and ESPN personalities in parades, talk shows, interactive game shows, and on-site broadcasts of ESPN programs. ESPN also offered an open audition for its hit reality show Dream Job. Dream Job begins its second season in September.
Student Reporters Cover Disney, Get Published in Sentinel
The Orlando Sentinel and Walt Disney World Media Relations created a summer high school sports journalism program that gave 10 students from across Central Florida the opportunity to learn about the journalism profession. Sentinel sports editors, columnists, and reporters served as mentors for the students as they covered weekly events at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex during the month of July.
Hess Sports Fields Grand Opening
Disney Sports Attractions unveiled its new Hess Sports Fields venue on August 9 in a special ceremony at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. The Hess Sports Fields, sponsored by Amerada Hess Corporation, feature 20 acres of new fields and diamonds and represents the first venue expansion in the eight-year history of the sports complex at the Walt Disney World Resort which hosts more than 170 annual events. At right, Reggie Williams, vice president of Disney Sports Attractions, Paul Brzezicki, director of retail sales for Amerada Hess, Lee Cockerell, executive vice president of operations for Walt Disney World Resort, and Kellen Winslow, the director of planning and new event development for Disney Sports Attractions, participate in a grand opening ceremony for the new Hess Sports Fields venue at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Click the photo at right to see a larger image.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
© Disney
MouseMail is a periodic news brief for Central Florida business, community and government leaders, produced by Walt Disney World Co. For information on Walt Disney World Resort hours, attractions and theme parks, please visit www.disneyworld.com.
