As students across Central Florida head back to the classroom, Walt Disney World is helping teachers and families prepare for the new school year.
Through Disney’s annual Back-to-School Supply Drive supporting A Gift For Teaching, Walt Disney World cast members collected more than 155,000 school supplies this summer. With this year’s donation, Disney provided more than 1 million school supplies to local teachers and students over the past decade.
The supplies will help stock classrooms and support students and educators across Orange, Osceola, Lake, Seminole and Polk counties. On Thursday, Disney VoluntEARS gathered to count and sort the donated items before they are distributed through A Gift For Teaching.
“We’re committed to removing barriers to learning by ensuring teachers and students have free access to the supplies they need to succeed,” said Jane Thompson, president of A Gift For Teaching. “These donated supplies represent a student walking into school prepared to learn and a teacher feeling supported by their community.”
Disney has been a longtime supporter of A Gift For Teaching, one of Central Florida’s largest providers of free school supplies to educators and students. Since the nonprofit was founded nearly 30 years ago, Disney has helped provide resources and support to local schools through monetary donations, in-kind contributions and volunteer efforts.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to start the school year feeling prepared and confident,” said Tajiana Ancora-Brown, director of External Affairs at Walt Disney World. “Year after year, our cast comes together to support local students and teachers because we know that having the right tools can make a real difference in the classroom.”
The Back-to-School Supply Drive is one part of Disney’s broader commitment to education in Central Florida. Earlier this summer, Disney invested $1.3 million in education programs across the region, benefiting all five local school districts as well as organizations supporting students and educators.
As the new school year gets underway, Disney’s continued contributions are helping local classrooms get the resources they need while supporting students as they begin another year of learning.
