Making wishes come true

Image: DisneyWhile UNICEF and Disney go way back, another organization is clearly the one that Disney supports most passionately. In 2015, the Make-A-Wish Foundation lauded the Mouse House for its 100,000th wish granted. According to the official site, Disney’s first Make-A-Wish occurred in 1981, and they perform 7,000 wishes annually.

Anyone who has ever been close to a child celebrating their wish at Disney understands just how special and priceless these moments are. The joy that Disney brings into the lives of these children is profound. And their support is critical to the success of Make-A-Wish. By their own calculations, the charity believes that Disney is responsible for half of all wishes granted. Make-A-Wish even made a special video celebrating the unique bond between the two entities.

Image: DisneyThe most famous recent example of Disney’s connection to Make-A-Wish is the #shareyourears social media campaign. Through this program, Disney donated $5 per person for anyone who uploaded a picture of them in Mouse Ears to a social media service. As long as Disney fans used the appropriate hashtag, the company made the donation. The stated limit for 2018 was $2 million, but the campaign proved so popular that Disney extended it to $3 million.

Disney takes the relationship so seriously that they built a special charitable arm in 1983. The Disney Worldwide Outreach Program addresses contributions big and small across the world. They have five core national partners, of which Make-A-Wish is arguably the most important. The others are Boys and Girls Clubs of America, First Book, Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation, and Toys for Tots. Speaking of which…

A lot of books

Image: DisneyHow many books would you estimate that you’ve read in your lifetime? How many do you think you could read if you had lots of free time? Well, I’m about to tell you a number that will make you feel a bit overwhelmed.

Since 2012, Disney’s connection with First Book has become a huge boon for the North American educational system. First Book seeks to provide resources to destitute parts of America and Canada, guaranteeing that even the poorest students still have access to books. The service even throws in some warm clothing, hygiene kits, and food, thereby assuring a higher quality of life to affected children.

Disney is all-in on this service. In only a handful of years, the company has already donated 61 million books to needy kids across North America! They’re averaging roughly 10 million donations per year, enough to give lots of deserving kids a fighting chance in life. It’s one of the best charitable programs in Disney’s arsenal right now, which is saying a lot since the company’s official website says: “Disney gave more than $348 million to nonprofit organizations helping kids, families, and communities in need.”