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First Ever Disney Children’s Fund Awards Granted to Children’s Organizations in Hong Kong

(April 27, 2008) During the celebration to mark the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland’s newest attraction, “it’s a small world,” The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) today announced the recipients of the first grants from the Disney Children’s Fund. Created by TWDC’s Worldwide Outreach group, the HK$1 million Fund was established as part of a pilot program to address the needs of children in the Hong Kong community.

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The recipients of this year’s grant include: Life Workshop, Industrial Evangelistic Fellowship, Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council, Playright Children’s Play Association, Po Leung Kuk Sunrise Court, The Hong Kong Committee on Children’s Rights, and TREATS. The seven recipients will receive a total of HK$940,504 in grants. At the recommendation of the panel of judges, the remaining fund will be used to enable the recipients to share their experience and learning with the welfare community.

The Disney Children’s Fund received a total of 36 applications from NGOs who are committed to children. The seven recipients were selected based on a number of criteria including the creativity and sustainable nature of the project, project management, and resource and funding allocation.

“Helping children around the world has always been at the heart of The Walt Disney Company's charitable endeavors – and we are proud to bring this tradition to Hong Kong,” said Jay Rasulo, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. “As the new ‘it’s a small world’ attraction classically demonstrates, children embody the qualities of hope, optimism and community that Walt Disney so cherished, and which he shared through his imaginative storytelling.”

In the coming 12 months, the selected organizations will implement children’s programs ranging from a customized social work service for underprivileged children and social integration for children with disabilities to a child-friendly community facilities project. The activities, to be launched with the funding from The Walt Disney Company, are expected to touch the lives of close to 3,000 children and families. (Please see fact sheet of the seven programs attached)

“It is very encouraging to have received such inspiring applications and we look forward to working with these children’s organizations to bring innovative projects to life for the children of Hong Kong,” remarked Dave Vermeulen, Managing Director of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. “I also would like to thank the members of the judging panel who have given us their precious time, talent and experience to assess these applications.”

The judges’ panel included a number of Hong Kong’s business leaders and professionals: The Honorary Mr. Bernard Chan, Chairman, Hong Kong Council of Social Services (HKCSS); Dr. Sandra Tsang, Head, Department of Social Work and Administration, The University of Hong Kong; Dr. Lily Chiu, Cluster Chief Executive (Kowloon West), Hospital Authority; Mrs. Priscilla Lui, Director, Against Child Abuse; and Mr. Bill Ernest, President and Managing Director of Asia for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

“The projects selected by the Disney Children’s Fund set out to make a difference to the welfare of Hong Kong’s children,” said Dr. Lily Chiu, one of the judges of Disney Children’s Fund. “We wish the Fund great success in the future on its philanthropic mission and I would like to applaud The Walt Disney Company and Hong Kong Disneyland for developing this very worthwhile endeavor.”

The Disney Children’s Fund is part of Hong Kong Disneyland’s commitment to the people of Hong Kong, and maintains a tradition of community service and philanthropy that has been a hallmark of Disney Parks for more than 50 years. The Resort also recently initiated a new Cast Member VoluntEARS program designed to assist children who are hospitalized – building on the existing efforts of the Hong Kong Disneyland cast to give back to their community and the environment.

-- Posted May 5, 2008

 

 

 

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