Every year, Disney Friends for Change partners with Youth Service America (YSA) to offer grants “to help make a lasting, positive change in the world.” This year, 60 grants were awarded to participants between the ages of 5-25 and living in cities from Annapolis to Willimantic.
One recipient is Allison Marciniak, a kindergartener at Mackensen Elementary in Bay City, MI. Her project, “Be a Buddy, Not a Bully,” is made up of kids from grades K-5, and the members meet once a week to discuss the effects of – and …

Disney Channel star Bridgit Mendler (Good Luck Charlie) was awarded the 2012 Role Model of the Year Award from Common Sense Media, a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching parents and teachers how to safely manage media and technology in children’s lives. The award was given during Common Sense Media’s 8th annual awards ceremony on April 25 in San Francisco.
In addition to her role on Good Luck Charlie, Mendler enjoyed a role in the Disney Channel movie Lemonade Mouth and recently starred in a series of cyberbullying public service announcements. She …

In a campaign launching Thursday on Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney.com, several Disney Channel actors (including Bella Thorne, Bridgit Mendler, China Anne McClain, Zendaya, Debby Ryan and Billy Unger) will be speaking about cyberbullying and urging young children between the ages of 6 and 14 to not only treat each other well, but to speak up about bullying.
Additionally, the campaign will encourage parents to teach their children responsible ways to use cell phones, social networks and online gaming sites as well as give advice about what to do when …