Give a Day of Volunteer Service in 2010, Get a Day of Disney Theme Park Fun � Free

Disney Parks Hopes to Inspire 1 Million Volunteers Beginning Jan. 1

Disney Parks is launching a program that celebrates the spirit of volunteer service with a simple proposition: “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day.”

Disney hopes to inspire families to volunteer in their communities during 2010 through this first of its kind program. One million people who perform volunteer service for a participating organization will receive a free one-day admission ticket to a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort theme park.

While the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program kicks off Jan. 1, right now guests can learn more about the program and how to get their free one-day admission to a Walt Disney World or Disneyland theme park by visiting www.DisneyParks.com (for the United States and Puerto Rico) or www.DisneyParks.ca (for Canada).

In the past year, guests have been celebrating all sorts of special moments in their lives at Disney parks – from birthdays and anniversaries to reunions and graduations – as part of the “What Will You Celebrate?” campaign.

“In 2010, we want to recognize and add one more reason for celebration: the contributions people make to their communities every day,” said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “We want to inspire 1 million volunteers – people who will invest time and energy to make their own communities and neighborhoods a better place.”

To enable people to sign up for an eligible volunteer project, Disney is working with HandsOn Network, the nation’s largest volunteer network. Part of Points of Light Institute, HandsOn Network has 250 on-the-ground volunteer action centers across the country and connects volunteers to more than 70,000 nonprofit agencies that need their help.

“Wherever we live, our communities need our hands-on help to thrive,” said Michelle Nunn, CEO of Points of Light Institute. “We are thrilled at this unprecedented effort by Disney Parks to help mobilize 1 million volunteers into action. ‘Give a Day, Get a Disney Day’ has the potential to reach so many families and instill the volunteer spirit in a new generation.”

Bob Iger, president and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, said, “ ‘Give a Day, Get a Disney Day’ fits perfectly with our long history of supporting and participating in volunteer efforts. It’s a great way to honor guests who are making a positive contribution to their communities.”

Starting Jan. 1, 2010, guests can go to www.DisneyParks.com for the United States and Puerto Rico or www.DisneyParks.ca for Canada to search for volunteer opportunities available in those areas through HandsOn Network and sign up for a day of volunteer service. Many of the opportunities will be for projects that entire families can participate in together.

To raise awareness for grass-roots community volunteerism and the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program, Disney VoluntEARS and volunteers from Southwest Airlines are joining with local volunteers on projects coordinated by HandsOn Network in cities across North America this fall and winter. Southwest Airlines also is providing transportation for the initiative.

“Southwest Airlines strives to make a positive difference in the communities we serve, from protecting the environment to supporting a local cause,” said Linda Rutherford, vice president of Communications and Strategic Outreach, Southwest Airlines. “Southwest employees give back both locally and nationally through volunteerism, with individual and personal efforts, serving together as teams or through companywide efforts. The opportunity with Disney unites two companies that are devoted to the spirit of volunteerism.”

Give a Day, Get a Disney Day details:

Must pre-register and sign up for eligible volunteer opportunity at disneyparks.com. Ticket quantities for this program are limited. Must be at least age 6 to participate. Other terms and conditions apply. For details, see disneyparks.com in the United States and Puerto Rico. In Canada, see disneyparks.ca.

 

About HandsOn Network
The volunteer-focused arm of Points of Light Institute, HandsOn Network is the largest volunteer network in the nation and includes more than 250 HandsOn Action Centers that reach more than 83 percent of the nation’s population and extend to 10 countries. HandsOn includes a powerful network of more than 70,000 corporate, faith and nonprofit organizations that are answering the call to serve and creating scaled impact. In 2008, the network delivered approximately 30 million hours of volunteer service.

3 Steps Take U.S., Canadian Volunteers through a Day Of Volunteer Service and to a Disney Park to Celebrate

Disney Parks hopes to inspire families to volunteer in their communities during 2010 through “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day,” a first-of-its-kind program which celebrates community service by giving a free one-day admission ticket to a Walt Disney World or Disneyland theme park to 1 million people who perform volunteer service for a participating organization.

The “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program encourages guests to sign up for eligible volunteer opportunities in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. Now through Dec. 31, 2009,Guests can learn more about how to participate at www.DisneyParks.com (for the United States and Puerto Rico)and www.DisneyParks.ca (for Canada ).

Starting Jan. 1, 2010, people can take advantage of the opportunity in three steps: Sign Up, Volunteer, Redeem.

Here are more details:

• Visit www.DisneyParks.com or www.DisneyParks.ca, search for a volunteer activity and sign up. The opportunities are being coordinated by HandsOn Network, which includes more than 70,000 nonprofit, school and community-based organizations – all of which rely on volunteer efforts to accomplish their missions in communities. Many of the activities provide opportunities for families to volunteer together.
• Complete the volunteer activity selected.
• When the completed day of volunteer service has been verified by HandsOn Network, print out a certificate online (instructions will be included in a follow-up e-mail from Disney Parks) and redeem it at a Disney park – in California at Disneyland Resort or in Florida at Walt Disney World Resort – for a one-day, one-park ticket. If a guest determines that they won’t be able to visit a Disney park (certificates must be redeemed and tickets used by Dec. 15, 2010), they can donate the ticket to a charity designated by Disney.

Give a Day, Get a Disney Day details:
Must pre-register and sign up for eligible volunteer opportunity at disneyparks.com. Ticket quantities for this program are limited. Must be at least age 6 to participate. Other terms and conditions apply. For details, see disneyparks.com in the United States and Puerto Rico. In Canada, see disneyparks.ca.