LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Walt Disney World VoluntEARS celebrated Earth Month with service projects in communities throughout Central Florida. Combining education and dedication with action, Cast Members worked to enhance their community and the environment.
Hundreds of Walt Disney World Cast Members and their families lent their time to causes that help preserve and protect the environment, including a cleanup at Lake Louisa State Park, events at the Disney Wilderness Preserve, Clean the World and gardening at the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando.
“There are many ways Disney VoluntEARS help make a difference for their friends and neighbors in Central Florida,” said Nancy Gidusko, director, Corporate Citizenship for Walt Disney World Resort. “But their dedication and care for our environment really shone through this Earth Month.”
To kick-off the month of earth-centered volunteer projects, Cast Members gathered at Lake Louisa State Park in Clermont, Fla. to clean up and “green up” the park. The VoluntEARS worked together on trail maintenance, gardening and trash pickup.
Other Cast Members donated their time to Clean the World in Orlando, helping recycle 12,000 bars of used soap and 70,000 hygiene products donated from area resorts. These recycled products will provide soap and hygiene products that will benefit over 109K people. The philanthropic organization collects items such as shampoo, body wash and bar soap, then sterilizes and recycles them for donation. In addition to diverting these items from the landfills, Clean the World helps save lives around the world by promoting cleanliness, which reduces hygiene-related illnesses.
Adding to the contributions of Disney VoluntEARS this Earth Month, a group of animal-loving Cast Members spent time at the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando to help refresh the enrichment garden by planting pumpkin and sweet potato plants and beautify an area used for a “first family picture spot” .The food will be fed to animals at the shelter waiting for their forever home.
As a company with 74,000 Cast Members who live and work in Central Florida, Walt Disney World Resort is committed to investing in our community. In 2015, the resort donated more than 250,000 logged volunteer hours through the efforts of our Disney VoluntEARS.
A Disney blooded, crafty, fun-lovin’ wife/mom/organizer/planner, etc who is obsessed with all things Disney 🙂 Maria grew up with the Magic Kingdom and has loved watching WDW evolve into what it is today. A firm believer in the Power of Pixie Dust, she is the owner of The Disney Driven Life – A Community for Neurotic Disney People & a d.i.y. crafty blog, Carousel of Projects – create~inspire~share.
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