Walt Disney World Ambassadors Give Back to Central Florida
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., August 29, 2013 – Beyond the world-class entertainment and amazing themed experiences that Disney is known for, Walt Disney World Resort is also committed to giving back to the community in ways that help make Central Florida a better place to live.
This month, a new initiative called “VoluntEARing with the Walt Disney World Ambassadors,” takes Ambassadors Rich Tamayo and Tye Arnold around Central Florida lending a hand to various groups that support children and families in need. This new effort builds upon the existing Disney VoluntEARS program that provides opportunities for Cast Members to give back to the community where they live, work and play. Last year, Disney VoluntEARS donated 230,000 hours to help local groups fulfill their missions.
“By hosting these VoluntEAR events, we want to encourage even more Cast Members to share the experience of helping our neighbors,” said Disney Ambassador Tamayo. “It’s all about giving back and connecting with the place we call home.”
Representing 66,000 Cast Members, both Ambassadors were recently joined by several Disney VoluntEARS at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida where they helped sort and pack food items.
“Having personally been impacted by the Second Harvest Food Bank, I understand what groups like the Disney VoluntEARS mean to our organization,” said Awilda Brumfield, volunteer services and food drive assistant at Second Harvest. “Cast Members donating their time is a tremendous help to us.”
Last month, the Ambassador team also joined forces with other VoluntEARS to clean and paint the facilities at Welbourne Avenue Nursery & Kindergarten in Winter Park just before the start of the new school year.
The Disney Ambassador Program began in 1964 during the 10th anniversary of Disneyland when Walt Disney was overwhelmed with requests for appearances and needed a few good surrogates. He selected the first Ambassador in 1965, and since then, each Disney theme park around the world has opened with an Ambassador.
