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PALM BEACH COUNTY STUDENTS ARE STATEWIDE WINNERS OF JIMINY CRICKET'S ENVIRONMENTALITY™ CHALLENGE

April 19, 2004

PALM BEACH COUNTY STUDENTS ARE STATEWIDE WINNERS OF JIMINY CRICKET'S ENVIRONMENTALITY™ CHALLENGE

April 19, 2004, Lake Buena Vista, Florida - Jiminy Cricket, along with representatives from the Walt Disney World Community Relations department and Walt Disney World Ambassador, Sara Bishop, dropped in on a fifth-grade class from West Gate Elementary School in West Palm Beach today to tell the students that they are going to be honored at the Walt Disney World Resort in May as the winners of a statewide environmental education program called Jiminy Cricket's EnvironmentalityTM Challenge. The program encourages students to think and act environmentally at home, at school and in the community.

Jiminy Cricket's EnvironmentalityTM Challenge is the result of a partnership between Walt Disney World Co. and the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection to promote environmental education and action. Earlier this school year, all fifth-grade students throughout Florida's public school system were presented with the opportunity to get involved. More than 12,000 students made a pledge to take action to help the environment, and over 65 extensive environmental programs were submitted.

The grand prizewinners - 23 students in Mrs. Miriam Freedman's class - demonstrated what a tremendous impact a group of young people can make on the environment. Through their project, the students raised awareness of the merits of recycling and were able to increase the number of people who recycle in West Gate by surveying the neighborhood, graphing and analyzing the results. They then educated neighbors through letters and re-surveyed the same people to analyze changes in recycling habits. Because of this project, recycling will become a habit resulting in a cleaner neighborhood and longer lasting natural resources.

The students will arrive at the Walt Disney World Resort on May 12th, and will stay overnight at Disney's Yacht Club Resort. That evening a private party will be held in their honor at the Magic Kingdom Theme Park. The fun continues the following day, when they will enjoy special recognition at Disney's Animal Kingdom and participate in a behind-the-scenes educational experience. The awards ceremony will feature Colleen Castille, Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and Dr. Beth Stevens, Vice President of Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Jiminy Cricket's EnvironmentalityTM Challenge originated in California and expanded to Florida seven years ago. Nearly 90,000 students have participated in the Florida program.

For more information about Disney's dedication to EnvironmentalityTM, please go to www.disneyhand.com.

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"Physical America - the land itself - should be as dear to all of us as our political heritage and our treasured way of life. Its preservation and the wise conservation of its renewable resources concerns every man, woman and child whose possession it is."   Walt Disney

Walt Disney World Community Relations extends a caring hand to the children of our community. It is the goal of DisneyHand - Helping Kids Shine to engage children in society through four building blocks:

  • Connecting with Adults
  • Constructive Use of Free Time
  • Character Development
  • Compassion

Note: For more information or to make media arrangements to visit the Walt Disney World Resort with the students, please contact Bonnie McGuire at the Walt Disney World Resort Public Affairs department at 407-828-3814.

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