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Disney Helps Clean The World

Back in 2010, Disney World became a part of Clean the World, a central Florida organization which collects, sanitizes and repackages unused, discarded hotel soaps and shampoos before distributing them to poverty-stricken nations across the globe.

In the two years since, some 53 tons (or 565,509 bars) of soap have been collected by Disney resorts. In addition, Disney has collected over 33 tons of shampoo, conditioner and lotion for distribution.

The cleanliness items have been distrubted locally in homeless and domestic abuse shelters in the Orlando area as well as worldwide.

Central Florida Children To Benefit From Disney's $1.5 Million In Grants

Disney, often known for their charitable needs and giving, is gearing up to give $1.5 million in grants throughout central Florida to benefit children. The "Helping Kids Shine" grants will go to fifty-nine charities and organizations throughout the Orlando area; estimates say the money will benefit some 70,000 children in the region.

Disney Launches New Employee Donation Matching Program

Disney and its employees have long been known for their generosity and charitable works, yet Disney has said it wants to do more and help make the world a better place. They've recently started a new employee donation matching program to help achieve this goal.

The new program, called "Disney Employee Matching Gifts: A Program of The Walt Disney Company Foundation," will match Disney funds with any employee contributions to charities and schools.

Disney VoluntEARS Make "Little Mermaid" Friends for CANstruction Competition

The fourth annual Orange County CANstruction contest was held recently with Disney represented by its VoluntEARS.

For the competition, the VoluntEARS constructed Sebastian and Flounder from "The Little Mermaid" completely out of canned goods and non-perishable food items. Around 4,200 pounds of canned items like black beans and corn plus juice pouches were used to create the structure.

Disney Hotel Exec Joins Clean the World Board

Recently, a Disney hotel executive was named to an organization that helps provide hygiene products to communities in need. Vice president of lodging for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Mark Zucker was recently selected to join the board of directors for the Clean the World Foundation.

Clean the World, which is based in Orlando, aims to provide recycled soap and shampoo to poverty-stricken areas across the nation to help combat illness stemming from lack of hygiene products.

Disney Contributes Over $600,000 to VoluntEARS' Charities

They consistently provide outstanding customer service in and around the parks, and some Disney cast members take these skills into the central Florida community by being a Disney VoluntEAR. Turns out, this group of dedicated Disney employees volunteered some 228,000 hours of their time to various charities last year. Now, in addition to the hours of service, the Walt Disney Company is also contributing $686,950 to nearly 400 charities.

Disney Cast Members Raise $36K for Make-A-Wish Foundation

In true Disney spirit, five hundred cast members and volunteers recently participated in the "Encore! Cast and Orchestra" program donated over 47,000 hours to put together "Dream Our Dreams, A Musical Tribute to the Legacy of Disney." The program was held at EPCOT center's "World Showplace" in early August, and raised over $37K for the "Make-A-Wish Foundation."

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9 Tips For Date Night At The Magic Kingdom

Date night isn't just for the young, but the young at heart as well, and I can't think of a better place to spend a night with the one I love than Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. Some how the pressures of being a grown-up seem to melt away when you stand in front of that Castle and dare to dream. Here are 9 tips for a fantastic date night at the Magic Kingdom.

Walt Disney World Cast Member is 2014 Disney VoluntEAR of the Year

A Walt Disney World cast member has been named the 2014 Disney VoluntEAR of the Year.

Kristen Lehrer, a resource manager at Disney's Animal Kingdom, was chosen by her fellow Disney cast members. She received a surprise celebration, a trophy, a handshake from Mickey Mouse, and a $2,500 contribution to the charity of her choice.

Star Wars: Force for Change Is Committed To Making Our World A Little Better

Over the last few months, we at WDWforGrownups.com have shared with you some pretty important Star Wars information; Star Wars Weekends, The new Star Wars Rebels show, Casting for the new movie, but nothing could prepare us for this huge story. On May 21st of this year J.J.Abrams, from the set of the new Star Wars VII movie set, announced Star Wars: Force for Change.

Zachary Levi Launches Indiegogo Campaign For Nerd HQ

Earlier this week, actor Zachary Levi launched a 46-day crowd-funding campaign called "I Want My Nerd HQ." With a $1 million target goal, the fund will go to help to finance the popular fan event Nerd HQ in San Diego, California.

Levi is known by Disney fans everywhere as the voice of the debonair thief Flynn Rider from Disney's animated sensation 'Tangled,' and more recently as the swashbuckling Fandral in 'Thor: The Dark World.'