Disney Brings Magic to Back-to-School

Luck favors the prepared, right? Starting a new school year can be an overwhelming task. But this year, Disney helped students and educators across the U.S. get off on the right foot with inspiration, a spark of magic, and a vision of what’s possible through the Disney VoluntEARS Back to School Supply Drive, youth nonprofit field trips to Disney campuses, and other special surprises.

These initiatives were created to help K-12 students and educators realize their potential by equipping them with the tools, knowledge, and supplies they need to thrive this school year. This work is part of Disney Future Storytellers, the company’s commitment to inspiring the next generation of storytellers and innovators.

Let’s travel across the country to explore just a few of the ways Disney brought the magic to the 2024 back-to-school season:

 California

Disneyland Resort Cast Members came together to donate more than 8,000 school supplies to a local elementary school – one of which the Resort has had a strong relationship with for nearly two decades. Sprinkling pixie dust in the Orange County community, Disney VoluntEARS distributed these supplies directly to the students and their families.

Los Angeles-based organizations The Hidden Genius Project and the LA Promise Fund were both hosted at Disney campuses throughout July for engaging Disney Future Storytellers programming geared toward high school students.

Nearly 50 high school students from The Hidden Genius Project – a nonprofit that offer technology and leadership skills development to Black male youth – visited the Glendale Grand Central Creative and Pixar Campuses for a behind-the-scenes look at working in tech at Disney. The students also experienced a tech-focused career exploration panel, networking lunch, and Disney Games demo.

Over in Burbank, students from LA Promise Fund – an organization created to improve college and career access – took a tour across The Walt Disney Studios. These students were joined by Disney professionals for a passionate career panel on how to fearlessly let their passions fuel their purpose and perspectives.

New York

More than two dozen Disney VoluntEARS spent one of their August weekends sorting and distributing school supplies and backpacks to 400 local students at Hudson Guild’s Back to School Bash in Chelsea. Families in attendance also enjoyed end-of-summer fun activities, including a bounce house and face painting. Disney sponsors this annual event as part of our broader support of Hudson Guild, a nonprofit that works to enrich communities in Chelsea and along Manhattan’s west side.

 Florida

With the help of Mickey Mouse & friends, Walt Disney World delivered teachers at public schools across Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Polk, and Lake Counties an extra spark of joy as they started their school year. These Central Florida educators were all surprised with park tickets to experience their local Disney parks before another year of preparing the next generation of storytellers and dreamers.

Keeping the Momentum: Disney’s support of local students will continue into the school year as Burbank-based Disney VoluntEARS mentor a new elementary school cohort of Young Storytellers. These students will stretch their imaginations as they experience the script-writing process while becoming the driving force of their own narratives during this school year and beyond.

To learn more, please visit impact.disney.com.