March 10, 2005
The Walt Disney World® Resort takes its responsibility to help build a better Central Florida seriously. We believe it's important to invest in children, to support economic diversification and build stronger relationships. In the past month, we've been particularly active. Our Cast Members turned out in record numbers to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for Junior Achievement of Central Florida; our Company provided financial support to help showcase the Latin community at the first annual Hispanic Summit; and we leveraged our marketing team to tout the region's technology sector to international markets. Working with community leaders like you, we can all make exciting things happen for Central Florida.
Disney Partners with Chamber as Title Sponsor of Hispanic Summit
Walt Disney World Co. served as title sponsor for the first annual Hispanic Summit organized by the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce held last week at the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport. Government, business and community leaders gathered for three days to discuss public-policy issues regarding the Latino/Hispanic community and the growing strength and importance of this population. The Summit was designed to promote cooperation, coordination and collaboration among established Latino/Hispanic community groups and organizations, and along with Blue Cross/Blue Shield, the Walt Disney World Co. has committed to being a lead sponsor of this event for three years. As the largest employer in Central Florida, we are pleased to support this opportunity to continue cultivating positive new relationships. For details about the Hispanic Summit, please click here .
Cast Members, Imagineers Raise $230K for Junior Achievement
Cha-Ching! A record 4,400 Walt Disney World Cast Members and Imagineers took over six Central Florida bowling centers March 5-6 for the DisneyHand-Helping Kids Shine Bowl-A-Thon to benefit Junior Achievement of Central Florida. The preliminary tally: $233,400. This contribution will support programs that educate young people while inspiring them to improve the quality of their lives with positive values regarding the free enterprise system, entrepreneurship, business, and economics. Over the past 18 years, Walt Disney World VoluntEARS have raised more than $2 million for Junior Achievement of Central Florida. Through our community outreach, DisneyHand—Helping Kids Shine, Walt Disney World Co. seeks to build better futures for children by promoting four platforms: connecting with adults, constructive use of free time, character development and compassion. Click the image above to see several photos from this weekend's event.
Disney Showcases Central Florida Technology Leaders
At the invitation of Walt Disney World Co., nearly 30 journalists from nine countries recently visited Central Florida as part of a campaign to tout the region's technology sector. The 3-day visit, coordinated with the U.S. State Department and Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission, included site visits to Walt Disney World® Resort, NASA, Lockheed Martin Corporation and Electronic Arts. Walt Disney World Co. plays an active role showcasing the region as a premier business and travel destination. Al Weiss, president of Walt Disney World, serves as Chairman of the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission.
Disney Seeks Hundreds of Applicants at March 13 & 14 Job Fair
Walt Disney World Co. is holding a job fair to fill hundreds of full-time, part-time and seasonal positions. The "Great Disney Job Hunt" Job Fair will take place March 14-15, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., at the Walt Disney World Casting Center. Among many roles being offered, airport and luggage representatives are sought for the innovative new service, Disney's Magical Express. This guest offering begins on May 5, 2005 and will provide complimentary airport shuttle, luggage delivery and airline check-in for Walt Disney World Resort guests.
Disney Executive Reggie Williams Tops Most Powerful List
Reggie Williams, vice president of Disney Sports Attractions, has been named one of the "50 Most Powerful African Americans in Sports" in the March edition of Black Enterprise Magazine, which is on newsstands now. Williams is featured on the magazine's fold-over cover. Williams oversees the Sports & Recreation division for Walt Disney World Co., which includes Disney's Wide World of Sports™ Complex, Disney Golf, two water parks, and property-wide recreation programs. A former linebacker with the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals (1976-89) and Cincinnati City Councilman, Williams has been with Disney since 1993 and oversees a team of some 2,000 Cast Members. Visit www.blackenterprise.com to preview the March 2005 issue. Click the photo at right to view a larger image.
Disney VoluntEARS Bring Black History to Life in Local Classrooms
Walt Disney World VoluntEARS visited more than 90 local classrooms last month to celebrate Black History Month. Cast Members read Doreen Rappaport's Freedom River to the students and discussed the importance of Black History in the United States. In addition, VoluntEARS donated Black History kits to each classroom, which included a copy of Freedom River, bookmarks for each student, a complementary video from Disney Educational Productions, and a Black History celebration fact sheet.
Students Get Hands-On Horticulture Tips from Disney Cast
More than 130 middle-school and high-school students from the Central Florida YMCA Black Achievers and Developing Hispanic Leaders programs in Orange and Osceola counties participated in a "World of Work" day at Epcot® with volunteer mentors including Disney Adult Achievers. Cast Members from Horticulture hosted a tour of World Showcase for the students, showed them many different aspects of the park's landscaping, and taught them about possible careers as arborists, pest management specialists and topiary designers. Through DisneyHand—Helping Kids Shine, Walt Disney World Co. is a major sponsor of these YMCA programs that provide quality leadership development and educational enrichment to Central Florida youth.
Rhino Calf Birth Celebrated at Disney's Animal Kingdom®
Disney's Animal Kingdom is celebrating the birth of a rhinoceros calf. After more than 16 months of gestation, Kendi, a Southern White Rhino, recently delivered a female calf. The calf, named Kayla, is now nursing and bonding with her mother in private and will make her public debut later this spring. In 1999, Kendi was the first rhinoceros to be born at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Later this spring, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is expecting another birth; Ibala, a 26-year-old African Elephant, is expected to deliver her calf in April.
Annual Contractors' Forum Translates into Dollars for Minorities
Walt Disney World Co. recently sponsored the annual Contractors' Forum at Disney's Contemporary Resort. The annual event is organized by Walt Disney World Minority Business Development to help match contractors with minority business owners. More than 100 General Contractors and Disney project managers joined forces for the event. Last year, as a result of this networking event, more than $36 million dollars in project work was awarded to minority- and women-owned businesses.
Disney Imagineers Receive Accolades for Creativity
Three Disney attractions have been honored for Outstanding Achievement by the Themed Entertainment Association: Mission: SPACE at Epcot® earned the association's Technological Breakthrough award; Lucky the Dinosaur, soon to be seen at Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park, won the Technology award; and Disney's Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular at Disney's California Adventure™ Park was recognized as the best Live Show. The THEA Awards recognize excellence in the themed entertainment industry.
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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.
The Walt Disney World® Resort takes its responsibility to help build a better Central Florida seriously. We believe it's important to invest in children, to support economic diversification and build stronger relationships. In the past month, we've been particularly active. Our Cast Members turned out in record numbers to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for Junior Achievement of Central Florida; our Company provided financial support to help showcase the Latin community at the first annual Hispanic Summit; and we leveraged our marketing team to tout the region's technology sector to international markets. Working with community leaders like you, we can all make exciting things happen for Central Florida.
Disney Partners with Chamber as Title Sponsor of Hispanic Summit
Walt Disney World Co. served as title sponsor for the first annual Hispanic Summit organized by the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce held last week at the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport. Government, business and community leaders gathered for three days to discuss public-policy issues regarding the Latino/Hispanic community and the growing strength and importance of this population. The Summit was designed to promote cooperation, coordination and collaboration among established Latino/Hispanic community groups and organizations, and along with Blue Cross/Blue Shield, the Walt Disney World Co. has committed to being a lead sponsor of this event for three years. As the largest employer in Central Florida, we are pleased to support this opportunity to continue cultivating positive new relationships. For details about the Hispanic Summit, please click here .
Cast Members, Imagineers Raise $230K for Junior Achievement
Cha-Ching! A record 4,400 Walt Disney World Cast Members and Imagineers took over six Central Florida bowling centers March 5-6 for the DisneyHand-Helping Kids Shine Bowl-A-Thon to benefit Junior Achievement of Central Florida. The preliminary tally: $233,400. This contribution will support programs that educate young people while inspiring them to improve the quality of their lives with positive values regarding the free enterprise system, entrepreneurship, business, and economics. Over the past 18 years, Walt Disney World VoluntEARS have raised more than $2 million for Junior Achievement of Central Florida. Through our community outreach, DisneyHand—Helping Kids Shine, Walt Disney World Co. seeks to build better futures for children by promoting four platforms: connecting with adults, constructive use of free time, character development and compassion. Click the image above to see several photos from this weekend's event.
Disney Showcases Central Florida Technology Leaders
At the invitation of Walt Disney World Co., nearly 30 journalists from nine countries recently visited Central Florida as part of a campaign to tout the region's technology sector. The 3-day visit, coordinated with the U.S. State Department and Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission, included site visits to Walt Disney World® Resort, NASA, Lockheed Martin Corporation and Electronic Arts. Walt Disney World Co. plays an active role showcasing the region as a premier business and travel destination. Al Weiss, president of Walt Disney World, serves as Chairman of the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission.
Disney Seeks Hundreds of Applicants at March 13 & 14 Job Fair
Walt Disney World Co. is holding a job fair to fill hundreds of full-time, part-time and seasonal positions. The "Great Disney Job Hunt" Job Fair will take place March 14-15, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., at the Walt Disney World Casting Center. Among many roles being offered, airport and luggage representatives are sought for the innovative new service, Disney's Magical Express. This guest offering begins on May 5, 2005 and will provide complimentary airport shuttle, luggage delivery and airline check-in for Walt Disney World Resort guests.
Disney Executive Reggie Williams Tops Most Powerful List
Reggie Williams, vice president of Disney Sports Attractions, has been named one of the "50 Most Powerful African Americans in Sports" in the March edition of Black Enterprise Magazine, which is on newsstands now. Williams is featured on the magazine's fold-over cover. Williams oversees the Sports & Recreation division for Walt Disney World Co., which includes Disney's Wide World of Sports™ Complex, Disney Golf, two water parks, and property-wide recreation programs. A former linebacker with the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals (1976-89) and Cincinnati City Councilman, Williams has been with Disney since 1993 and oversees a team of some 2,000 Cast Members. Visit www.blackenterprise.com to preview the March 2005 issue. Click the photo at right to view a larger image.
Disney VoluntEARS Bring Black History to Life in Local Classrooms
Walt Disney World VoluntEARS visited more than 90 local classrooms last month to celebrate Black History Month. Cast Members read Doreen Rappaport's Freedom River to the students and discussed the importance of Black History in the United States. In addition, VoluntEARS donated Black History kits to each classroom, which included a copy of Freedom River, bookmarks for each student, a complementary video from Disney Educational Productions, and a Black History celebration fact sheet.
Students Get Hands-On Horticulture Tips from Disney Cast
More than 130 middle-school and high-school students from the Central Florida YMCA Black Achievers and Developing Hispanic Leaders programs in Orange and Osceola counties participated in a "World of Work" day at Epcot® with volunteer mentors including Disney Adult Achievers. Cast Members from Horticulture hosted a tour of World Showcase for the students, showed them many different aspects of the park's landscaping, and taught them about possible careers as arborists, pest management specialists and topiary designers. Through DisneyHand—Helping Kids Shine, Walt Disney World Co. is a major sponsor of these YMCA programs that provide quality leadership development and educational enrichment to Central Florida youth.
Rhino Calf Birth Celebrated at Disney's Animal Kingdom®
Disney's Animal Kingdom is celebrating the birth of a rhinoceros calf. After more than 16 months of gestation, Kendi, a Southern White Rhino, recently delivered a female calf. The calf, named Kayla, is now nursing and bonding with her mother in private and will make her public debut later this spring. In 1999, Kendi was the first rhinoceros to be born at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Later this spring, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is expecting another birth; Ibala, a 26-year-old African Elephant, is expected to deliver her calf in April.
Annual Contractors' Forum Translates into Dollars for Minorities
Walt Disney World Co. recently sponsored the annual Contractors' Forum at Disney's Contemporary Resort. The annual event is organized by Walt Disney World Minority Business Development to help match contractors with minority business owners. More than 100 General Contractors and Disney project managers joined forces for the event. Last year, as a result of this networking event, more than $36 million dollars in project work was awarded to minority- and women-owned businesses.
Disney Imagineers Receive Accolades for Creativity
Three Disney attractions have been honored for Outstanding Achievement by the Themed Entertainment Association: Mission: SPACE at Epcot® earned the association's Technological Breakthrough award; Lucky the Dinosaur, soon to be seen at Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park, won the Technology award; and Disney's Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular at Disney's California Adventure™ Park was recognized as the best Live Show. The THEA Awards recognize excellence in the themed entertainment industry.
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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.
