Last year, through its global outreach efforts, local community initiatives and the employee VoluntEARS program, Disney donated more than $177 million in cash and in-kind support to various charities around the world, while VoluntEARS contributed more than 466,000 hours of service.
The Company held its 2007 annual shareholder's meeting in New Orleans as a show of support for that city, where Company executives and the cast of Live with Regis and Kelly pitched in to rebuild playgrounds destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. In the wake of devastating Southern California wildfires in October, the Company's response was swift and generous. The Walt Disney Company committed $2 million to recovery and environmental rehabilitation efforts, while character and VoluntEAR visits to area shelters provided the kind of emotional boost that only Disney can provide.
Last April, Disney extended its spirit of volunteerism to its fast-growing international operations with the celebration of its first International VoluntEARS Day. More than 4,000 employees in 40 countries donated over 20,000 hours to their communities. This massive effort helped introduce Disney's international staff to the importance of volunteerism and was positively received in communities worldwide.
In 2007, Disney also partnered with several charitable organizations focused on children's welfare with which it has longstanding ties. Disneyland hosted the world premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, raising $3 million for the Make-AWishTM Foundation. While the Company granted more than 6,000 wishes over the course of the year through that organization, the Company also provided support to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, the Boys & Girls Club of America, the Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation and UNICEF, touching the lives of thousands of kids.
Top: Mickey spends time with new friends at Valley Center High School's Red Cross Shelter after the Southern California fires.
Middle: In Mumbai, Mickey and Minnie host children at Vatsalya orphanage for a day of painting, movies and more on Disney International VoluntEARS Day.
Bottom: Disney CEO Bob Iger, Kelly Ripa, Mickey and Minnie Mouse work with kids on new computers provided by The Walt Disney Company and the Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation at the Phyllis and David Komansky Center for Children's Health at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.
