Amid brightly colored pompoms, waving pennants and loud cheers of “Back To School,” dozens of Central Florida students and teachers helped Walt Disney World Resort kick off an annual Back to School Supply Drive with a pep rally hosted at the Boys & Girls Clubs – Walt Disney World Clubhouse.
Over the next few weeks, Disney Cast Members will shop for thousands of notebooks, crayons, pencils and other supplies to ultimately help more than 140,000 local kids get their school year off to a great start.
“The lengths Disney Cast Members go to in collecting supplies makes such a difference for me, my fellow teachers and our students,” said Johanna Lopez, 2016-17 Orange County Teacher of the Year. “Because of drives like this, I can focus on teaching, knowing my students can access the supplies they need to be successful in the classroom.”
Collected through Aug. 8 at locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort, the school supply donations will be distributed to students in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Polk and Lake counties through A Gift For Teaching.
“We are thrilled to help cheer on the efforts of Disney and its Cast Members,” said Jane Thompson, president of A Gift For Teaching. “As the primary provider of free school supplies to teachers for their students in need across Central Florida, the supplies Disney Cast Members donate are critical in keeping our shelves stocked throughout the school year.”
For more than decade, Walt Disney World Cast Members have donated millions of back-to-school supplies to benefit Central Florida students and teachers. Disney also supports education through initiatives such as annual contributions to local school districts, grants to other education nonprofits, individual recognition of outstanding students through the Disney Dreamers and Doers program, and volunteerism in classrooms around Central Florida.
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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