Celebrate Giving Tuesday in Central Florida with Walt Disney World Resort
Originally published at Disney Parks News
Happy Giving Tuesday! Today is a day where we are encouraged to redirect our busy, holiday shopping schedule from Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday and channel the season of giving with service, generosity, volunteerism and acts of kindness.
Cast members and Florida community members have the unique opportunity to participate in a variety of giving opportunities in the Central Florida community. Check out these 5 ways Disney is giving back and making a difference this holiday season.
Night of a Million Lights at Give Kids The World Village
Walt Disney World cast members have once again helped light up Give Kids The World Village for its second annual Night of a Million Lights holiday event, helping make even more dreams come true for children with life-threatening illnesses wishing to visit Central Florida.
If you’re planning to visit the Central Florida area this holiday season, we encourage you to check out the lights, wonder and magic at Give Kids The World. Visit gktw.org for tickets.
Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary License Plate
Florida drivers can unwrap the magic and help make children’s wishes come true by purchasing the first-ever Walt Disney World specialty license plate benefitting Make-A-Wish of Central and Northern Florida. Featuring an “EARidescent” 50th anniversary celebration logo on a majestic blue background inspired by Cinderella Castle, one hundred percent of the proceeds of this license plate benefits Make-A-Wish programs making wishes come true for children with life-threatening medical conditions. Disney has a longstanding relationship with Make-A-Wish, dating back to 1980, with more than 140,000 Disney-inspired wishes having been granted, with more than 8,000 taking place each year at Walt Disney World Resort.
This unique gift idea is the perfect way make dreams come true while celebrating the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort with the Florida driver on your list. Gift certificate vouchers can be purchased for $25 plus applicable state administration fees exclusively through Florida County Tax Collector’s Offices or license plate agencies (DMVs). Specialty plates can also be purchased or online through the Orange County Tax Collector’s Office.
Disney Ultimate Toy Drive supporting Toys for Tots
Join cast members and guests as they bring joy to children in need this holiday season by donating to the Disney Ultimate Toy Drive. Disney kicked off the toy drive with a $500,000 donation to Toys for Tots. Join in and donate a toy online at shopDisney.com through this Dec. 24, 2021, or donate a new, unwrapped toy in person through this Dec. 14, 2021 at Disney Springs at Walt Disney World (where you’ll find collection bins at the World of Disney® store, Marketplace Co-Op, Star Wars Galactic Outpost and Disney Springs® Welcome Center) or at Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort (where collection bins are located at the World of Disney® store, Star Wars Trading Post, and Resort Hotel stores).
50 for 50 Disney VoluntEARS Challenge
In honor of The World’s Most Magical Celebration, Disney cast members are celebrating the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World by challenging themselves to complete 50 hours of personal volunteer service and attend 50 VoluntEARS events before the end of the 18-month celebration. Disney VoluntEAR events include supporting local holiday events, mentoring students in the local community, sorting donated toys, helping to feed those in need, and more. We’re so grateful to support the personal dedication of our cast members to make a difference in local communities around the globe.
Disney Matching Gifts
When cast members donate to their favorite charities, The Walt Disney Company matches those eligible donations dollar-for-dollar from $25 up to $25,000, per individual, per year. It’s a great way to double the personal impact of our cast members on Giving Tuesday and every day, supporting eligible nonprofit causes that are important to our cast.
Walt Disney World also recently donated a total of $3 million to local nonprofits including: Give Kids The World Village, Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, Heart of Florida United Way, Hope Partnership and ELEVATE Orlando. Learn more about these grants here.
For more information about these and other ways Disney parks are making a difference around the globe, visit https://dpep.disney.com/citizenship/. For more information on the Walt Disney World Resort specialty license plate, visit www.flhsmv.gov, and learn more about The World’s Most Magical Celebration at www.DisneyWorld.com/50.
