Disney and the Human heart

[OogieBoogie]

While surfing the net I found the following article and wanted to share it with you all. Have a good one.

Disneyhand & The Human Heart

Perhaps John has touched on this before, but even so it deserves to be mentioned. We are fans, you and I, of Disney and all that the name implies: dreams, magic, fun, family, and maybe even romance. We appreciate what it means, and chances are that most of us, despite what we read in the news or sites like this, tend to look past the daily routine that is corporate and business, instead choosing to place the idea of Disney on a pedestal that few things can actually be worthy of.

Why do we tend to ignore the corporate side? I believe it is because every time we are forced to acknowledge it our vision of magic becomes a little more tarnished. We see layoffs and labor disputes, huge checks and fall-guys. We see what, unfortunately, makes Disney normal.

Yet, there is something hidden behind those headlines that may make you appreciate that commercial machine as something other than the ugly bi-product of making magic. It is the distribution of funds forgotten, the charitable side of a corporate giant- the heart of Disney.

Set aside, if you will, the cynicism of tax breaks and public relations, and picture the monies of Disney, basically the money we gave them, going to causes that most of us respect greatly and still manage to forget when writing checks and dividing our time: charity.

Now please, don't infer that my use of the collective "you" means you, the individual reader, specifically. The "you", "us" and "we", are bigger than that, and if you the individual are one of the few that actually donates time and/or money, then thank you, and I'm sure you, the individual that donates, understands the need for more of us, society, to do more. Disney does.

You've seen them everywhere, on children, celebrities, athletes, CEO's and custodians- possibly even on your own wrist. The wristband for a cause in every color of the rainbow, they support curing cancer, ending poverty, and numerous good causes, along with some lesser attempts at humor and just plain fashion. Disney, ever astute at making a buck, created their own wristbands which didn't support any cause other than the promotion of souvenirs and Disney memories.

Until now that is, to celebrate his 80th birthday Winnie the Pooh and his friends have created Pooh Wristbands which support the Make-A-Wish Foundation and their mission to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. You see, it isn't just Super Bowl MVP's that wish to go to Disneyland, as evident by five year old Christian Marlowe's recent visit, making him the 50,000th wish recipient to visit one of the parks.

Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation has a mission to enrich the lives of seriously ill children and their families through imaginative programs that educate, uplift their spirits, foster a sense of community and help alleviate the pain and fear of prolonged illness. Disney, in cooperation with Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation, makes an annual donation of a "Compassion Kit" to every children's hospital or pediatric wing in the country with 25 or more beds. Each of the Compassion Kits feature Mickey Mouse plush for every child in the hospital, as well as books, movies, video games, music and board games. Each kit has enough merchandise to fully stock a hospital room, waiting room, children's play room or other appropriate venue in order to brighten a child's hospital stay (taken from Disney Worldwide Outreach).

Disney also donates and aids First Book, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and The Marine Toys For Tots Foundation (for which Walt Disney and his animators personally designed the logo still used today).

There is more of course, Disney VoluntEARS- cast members that "show their character" go above and beyond. There are also programs in place supporting education, animals, the environment and overall conservation.
This is what Disney does, and although the information is available on their website, it is not something that they flaunt. Sure, you can argue that it is their responsibility, that they owe it to the community and children of the world and that anyone, even a corporation, that has such a surplus of income should be held so accountable. You can make that argument, and I think that Disney, both the machine and the magic, would agree with you. And me- the indiviual me

[alphabassetgrrl]

Thank you. It's nice to know that Disney gives back.