Disney VoluntEARS are continuing to spread holiday cheer around the world.
Disney Cruise Line recently hosted holiday outreach visits in St. Thomas, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel. The VoluntEARS on the ships distributed gifts to more than 500 children while the Disney characters greeted the kids.
The DCL visits were co-hosted with the local ministries of tourism as a way to give back to the ports that the Disney Cruise Line ships visit throughout the year.
Walt Disney World Resort VoluntEARS partnered with The Mission Continues for a special event at the Boys & …

It’s the most wonderful time of the year and Disney VoluntEARS have been spreading magical holiday cheer all around the globe.
Disneyland Resort VoluntEARS worked to decorate a 38-foot long CHOC-olate Yule Log to bring cheer to 400 kids and their families at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC).
The event also included a visit from Mickey Mouse, Olaf balloons, reindeer games, and a giant gingerbread house.
VoluntEARS from Hong Kong Disneyland visited the Siu Lam Hospital with Mickey and Minnie Mouse where they sang to and danced with the patients. The …

Disney VoluntEARS – including Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger – worked to transform an empty lot into a new play area for veterans’ families.
The 140 Disney VoluntEARS worked alongside volunteers from Habitat for Humanity, Heroes Work Here veterans, Golden Oak Ranch staff members, local Santa Calrita, California residents, and organizers from KaBOOM! to build the playground on a campus that is home to veterans’ families.
The design of the playground was based on drawings from kids in the community and the drawings were inspired by their favorite ways to play.
The new …

A special group of Disney VoluntEARS are creating handmade items to donate to Central Florida hospitals and other organizations.
The BlanketEARS started up in 2007 when the group would get together once a week to knit caps for soldiers who were overseas. The group is much bigger now and they use their time and talent to create knit, crochet, and sew baby hats, pet mats, quilts, and more.
Each month the BlanketEARS pack up their handmade creations and send them to Central Florida hospitals and community organizations including the Orlando Day Nursery, …

The Walt Disney World Resort has announced plans to give more than $1 million to Central Florida nonprofits to recognize the efforts of the Disney VoluntEARS.
The donations are made through the company’s EARS to You grants in honor of the 308,000 hours of community service that were donated by VoluntEARS in 2013. So far this year Disney has given more than 1,500 EARS to You grants to nonprofit organizations.
“By opening their hearts and devoting their time to local community groups, Disney VoluntEARS make Central Florida an even better place to …

A Walt Disney World cast member has been named the 2014 Disney VoluntEAR of the Year.
Kristen Lehrer, a resource manager at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, was chosen for the coveted award by Disney cast members. She received a surprise celebration, a trophy, a handshake from Mickey Mouse, and a $2,500 contribution to the charity of her choice.
“Kristin’s compassion and spirit of volunteerism is an inspiration to Cast Members throughout Central Florida,” said Nancy Gidusko, director of corporate citizenship for Walt Disney World Resort. “We’re proud to celebrate her contributions with one …

Disney VoluntEARS have been hard at work on projects and events around the world.
In Argentina the VoluntEARS were joined by children at Garrahan Hospital for a screening of the film Violetta in Concert. This special event was part of a program that bring Disney theatrical releases into children’s hospitals.
On the other side of the world, the Disney English Academic Training Team was honored as the 2014 Disney VoluntEARS Team of the Year in China for their contributions to the Rainbow Bridge Project.
As part of the project VoluntEARS helped rural English …

Disney VoluntEARS recently spent a weekend afternoon building a new playground in the town of Oakland, Florida, providing a safe place to play for the town’s children.
The 125 Disney VoluntEARS worked alongside a KaBOOM! construction crew and representatives from the Town of Oakland and the Oakland Nature Preserve to build the playground.
In less than six hours the volunteer crews placed 48,600 square feet of safety surface and assembled the playground equipment.
“Disney VoluntEARS are proud to help build this place of fun and fitness, where children and families can learn, play …

Recently more than 5,000 Disney VoluntEARS teamed up to bowl for a cause in the annual Junior Achievement Bowl-A-Thon.
The event raised nearly $250,000 for Junior Achievement of Central Florida. The money will go toward helping thousands of local kids understand finances and the economy.
The Walt Disney World Resort and its cast members have supported Junior Achievement’s mission for the past 17 years, and have raised nearly $3.7 million in that time.
“JA is so very proud to be working with Disney VoluntEARS again this year,” said Kathy Panter, President of Junior …

Last week cast members from Walt Disney World joined community leaders from Central Florida as the Extreme Village Makeover was revealed at Give Kids the World.
The cast members had donated many volunteer hours to help in the renovation and redesign of a building that honors the thousands of volunteers who serve kids and their families at Give Kids the World. The Extreme Makeover reveal was aired live on ABC’s Good Morning America.
The new space includes a lounge, registration area, and a floor-to-ceiling inspirational mural that was created with hundreds of …