Tag: make a wish

Disney Donates $3 Million to Make-A-Wish

Earlier this month, The Walt Disney Company announced it is donating $3 million to Make-A-Wish to help grant even more wishes for children with critical illnesses and their families.

The news follows the 2018 #ShareYourEars campaign celebrating 90 years of Mickey, which saw hundreds of thousands of Disney fans create amazing “ear photos” with their kids, families, friends and even pets to make a difference in the lives of children and families around the world.

Since 1980, Disney has helped Make-A-Wish grant the wishes of children with critical illnesses and their families. Currently, nearly 10,000 Disney wishes are granted every year with Make-A-Wish, helping wish kids replace fear with confidence, sadness with joy and anxiety with hope. For wish kids such as Quintino and their families, this partnership creates treasured memories:

#ShareYourEars is part of the Disney Team of Heroes philanthropic initiative and outreach program to deliver comfort and inspiration to families around the world.

In March 2018, The Walt Disney Company made a five-year, US $100 million commitment to reinvent the patient and family experience in children’s hospitals and is working with children’s wish-granting organizations around the world to fulfill wishes for children facing critical illnesses.

December 14, 2018
Make-A-Wish Child Grows Up To Become a Disneyland Cast Member

For Lexi Marincovich, making wishes come true is part of the job. As an entertainment host at the Disneyland Resort, Lexi facilitates wish visits for children with life-threatening medical conditions, in partnership with Make-A-Wish and other wish-granting organizations.

When she was a little girl, Lexi had no idea she would someday be working as a Disneyland Resort cast member.

“I was a wish child,” she said. “So when I was little, my mom said she wanted to see an older version of me. This is my shot to show these families that one day their child can work and be healthy.”

Each year, the Disneyland Resort grants approximately 750 wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions. More than half of the wishes include character encounters, hosted by cast members like Lexi.

According to Lexi, Disney characters can be a family’s symbol of hope. One wish visit that stood out to her was a child who met Oswald the Lucky Rabbit on Buena Vista Street. The child’s family considered Oswald their lucky rabbit because they would watch his cartoons and read his comics during medical treatments.

“Depending on the situation, I will tell the families I was a wish child,” Lexi said. “Working here and still being able to be involved with wishes is the best of both worlds. It means so much to me to give these families the hope and strength they need to get through whatever hardship they’re going through,” she said.

Kaavya Chanamolu, age 4, recently had her wish granted at the Disneyland Resort. Kaavya’s wish was to receive a transformation at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, experience “World of Color” and stay at the Disneyland Hotel with her family. A favorite moment was when Kaavya walked hand-in-hand with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse down Main Street, U.S.A.

“To feel the goodness coming from everyone reaffirmed our faith in humanity,” said Kaavya’s mom, Priyanka. “We saw so much joy in Kaavya and the normalcy in her again. Make-A-Wish is so important because emotional healing is what these families need. This was an emotionally elevating experience for us.”

March 22, 2018
Disney Donates $2 Million to Make-A-Wish for #ShareYourEars

Millions of Disney fans who took part in this year’s #ShareYourEars campaign over the holidays.

Once again with all the Ear Photos shared Disney reached its goal of $1 million and for the second year in a row they have doubled their original donation to Make-A-Wish to $2 million.

Disney Parks donated $5 to Make-A-Wish for each photo you shared on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram wearing “Mickey Ears” with the hashtag #ShareYourEars, which will help grant the wishes of children with critical illnesses and their families around the world.

Disney saw so many fun, silly, wacky, creative, festive Mickey Mouse Ear photos pour in from the far corners of the globe these past few weeks. Every year, nearly 9,000 Disney-related wishes are granted worldwide with Make-A-Wish, and with your support we can make even more happiness come true in the years to come.

December 28, 2017
Spread Holiday Cheer and #ShareYourEars to Support Make-A-Wish

It’s time for some holiday cheer in the Disney Parks, but first… Let me take a selfie. It’s for a good cause though and you get to show off your favorite Mickey ears. This holiday season, Disney Parks is donating $5 to Make-A-Wish, up to $1 million, for each photo you take and share on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram wearing “Mickey Ears” – or any fun, creative ears – with the hashtag #ShareYourEars.

If you remember, last year they held the same event and millions of fans who shared all types of “ear photos” on social channels making #ShareYourEars a huge success. That enthusiastic sharing led to doubling the original donation pledge to $2 million.

Now it’s time to take your “ear photos” to a new creative level. From now until Christmas Day – December 25, 2017 – Disney Parks is hoping you’ll post fun and unique “ear photos” with the hashtag #ShareYourEars. You can post right now.

And keep checking the Disney Parks Blog all month long as they feature some great #ShareYourEars photos shared on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. they’re looking for “ears” in the following categories: (1) groups and animals, (2) fun and creative, and (3) and holiday spirit.

With nearly 9,000 Disney-related wishes granted worldwide each year – including experiences at Disney theme parks and voyages on Disney Cruise Line – this campaign is close to our hearts. For more information about Make-A-Wish America, visit wish.org.

December 4, 2017