Walt Disney World Donates $5.7 Million Donation to Florida United Way

Walt Disney World, through a corporate matching gift from The Walt Disney Company Foundation and a hefty donation from Cast Members, announced a $5.7 million contribution to Heart of Florida United Way (HFUW) to the surprise of an audience of community leaders, volunteers and nonprofit organizations at a special ”All-Star” celebration on April 4 at the Amway Center.

The event, hosted by HFUW, recognized top donors to the 2011-2012 LIVE UNITED campaign and included participation from hundreds of employees representing 85 companies.  Disney’s donation led the million dollar champions and helped HFUW exceed its fundraising goal as it netted an impressive $19,365,723 to help struggling Central Floridians.

“For more than 40 years, Walt Disney World’s presence has been a driving catalyst behind the vitality of the Central Florida region,” said Robert H. (Bob) Brown, President and CEO of HFUW. “From the outside, one might think that was more than enough. But to also step forward with an incredible contribution of $5.7 million representing individual giving and a corporate match, truly makes a powerful statement about Disney’s values and its commitment to the communities where its Cast Members live and work.”

Randy Garfield, executive vice president of Worldwide Sales & Travel Operations for Disney Destinations and president of Walt Disney Travel Company and Heart of Florida United Way board member, took center court to share the great news about Disney’s gift. It was the first time United Way staffers, volunteers and community leaders heard the final campaign totals.

“As the largest employer in Central Florida, we are proud to lead the way in supporting the Heart of Florida United Way,” said Garfield. “Disney shares United Way’s commitment to providing help and hope to our Central Florida friends and neighbors in need and we know these contributions will make a difference in the lives of many.”

Walt Disney World’s contribution helped the United Way surpass its campaign goal of $17.75 million by 9.1 percent. It also topped the 2010-2011 campaign sum of $17.4 million. By virtue of its tremendous outpouring of support from Cast Members, Walt Disney World also earned the United Way’s Chairman’s Award distinction, which celebrates the campaign’s top-performing donor organization.

To celebrate Cast Member’s charitable giving this year, The Walt Disney Company Foundation matched all eligible Cast Member contributions.

The Heart of Florida United Way is the largest supporter of health and human service agencies in Central Florida. The agencies serve residents of Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. Nearly 100 local health and human service programs are operated, administered and promoted through United Way.

Last year, Cast Members donated more than $3.3 million to HFUW, making the Walt Disney World Resort its top giving organization in Central Florida. United Way strives to improve lives by improving education, helping people achieve financial stability and promoting healthy living.

Related articles

• Disney Movie Rewards – Disney’s Art of Animation Resort 3 Night Stay (chipandco.com)
• NEW! Disney PhotoPass+ arriving to Walt Disney World Resort (chipandco.com)

Let our friends at Destinations to Travel help you book your next Disney Vacation. They are the preferred Travel Agency of Chip and Company and Disney Addicts, and who we use ourselves.

Get started below for your FREE No Obligation Quote.

Book With our friends at Destinations to Travel

Who is your Travel Agent?(Required)

Let us pick for youEric HilesStacy ReedAbbey JohnsonAlisa SullivanAlli WillisAmanda FolsomAmanda VannAmber BrillhartAmber FisherAmy SieburnAndrea SmithAngela AndersonAngie BaycuraAnna PetrilliAnnabelle DuboseApril StefanskiAshley RamseyBeth ParsonsBetsy SantoroBrandie McQueenBrian BuckleyBridget HatchBryan SchwartzCandice SneedCarrie ButlerCarson DockumCasey BoltCharleen HortonChelsea RoyChelsea WuebkerChris BoyerChristie GrubeChristina FratturaChristina SmithCourtney WhiteCraig YoderDan MercedDanielle NorcrossDarby MouritsenDavid ForrestDeborah AlvaradoEmilee BiegelEmily MorrisFaith HakesGail HatchGreg MatzkerHelen HummerHolly CurryJackie CavistonJaclyn PepitoneJamie SwansonJeanine JordanJeff CallahanJenni MaierJennifer BrownJennifer StephensonJennifer StoessnerJessica HatfieldJessica HuffJessica WunderJoe GuertinJon CarpentierJoseph SliwaJulie McCombJustin BrownKat AttridgeKathryn EberhartKathy AndersonKatie HarrellKatie PrevotKayla CookKelsey SullensKim HelmsKimberly HutchinsonKristi GallagherKyle RamsdenLauren DewlenLeanne MonterLinda DurhamLindsay AckermannLindsey VromanLissette BritoLori HardyMallory MorrisonMandi QuinnMaranda PerkinsMarisa AlvaradoMegan TeismannMeghan BlairMelissa ReedMichele KlineMike BeyerMissy McCormickMisty DickersonNancy CasteelNicole ThorntonPatrick O'ConnorPaul SulPeyton Ward-KubikRaylene CooganRegan OstranderRobbie BulusRobert ThomasSara SolbergSarah McCandlishShanna BrowningShelley BennettShelly MetzStacy CristStacy KrzyminskiStacy SmithStephanie DraganoStephanie FerencStephanie WalshSusannah McCordTara SlusserTerri MillerTiffany DobraskiTiffany DrenkhahnTina FarmerTonya LesiukTracy DaneTroy DuncanVeronica RenteriaVicki FesslerWendy CarllWendy HauserWendy KellehanWendy Shelley

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Phone(Required)

Destination(Required)

Walt Disney WorldDisneyland ResortDisney Cruise LineAulani, A Disney Resort and SpaAulani, A Disney Resort and SpaUniversal FloridaUniversal HollywoodRoyal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian or other Cruise LineI don't know yet

# of Adults(Required)

# of Children(Required)

Check-in-Date(Required)

MM slash DD slash YYYY

Check-out-Date(Required)

MM slash DD slash YYYY

Comments, Questions or Special Requests

Comments

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Δ

For the BEST in Disney, Universal, Dollywood, and SeaWorld Theme Park News, Entertainment, Merchandise & More follow us on, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube. Don't forget to check out the Chip and Company Radio Network too!