Walt Disney World Earns Top Honors for Supporting the Arts

Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts, has named Walt Disney World Resort as one the 10 best companies in the United States for its support of the arts.

Every year, Americans for the Arts, through the Business Committee for the Arts (BCA), recognizes top U.S. companies for their exceptional commitment to the cultural community through grants, local partnerships, volunteer programs, matching gifts, sponsorships and board membership. Earning honors as part of the BCA 10: Best Companies Supporting the Arts in America for 2011, Walt Disney World Resort will receive its award on October 5 at a black-tie gala at the Central Park Boathouse in New York City.

“Business support for the arts is a critical piece of the arts funding equation in the United States, and Americans for the Arts is proud to honor those businesses that recognize the value the arts bring not only to their workplace but also their community,” said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. “By demonstrating their commitment to the arts through financial and in-kind support, these business leaders not only lead by example and set a standard of arts support for other companies to follow, but also bring the arts into lives of millions of people, further enriching and improving the quality of life for their workers and their communities.”

“We are honored to be recognized by Americans for the Arts for our ongoing commitment to the arts in Central Florida,” said Nancy Gidusko, director of Community Relations, Walt Disney World Resort. “Creativity and innovation are part of the fabric of our company – Disney’s support of the arts is just a natural extension of who we are and another example of our efforts to further enhance the quality of life across Central Florida. We are committed to making our community a vibrant place to live, work and play.”

For nearly four decades, Walt Disney World has continued to honor the spirit of corporate citizenship by giving back to the local arts community. Disney uses a multi-faceted approach in supporting arts – giving millions in cash donations, in-kind products and the knowledge and expertise of its Cast Members – to make the most meaningful impact.  Among these contributions is a $12.5 million capital investment in the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. In 2010, Walt Disney World gave more than $565,000 to the local arts community, including Disney Helping Kids Shine grants to support local youth arts programs.

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