Disney's Work with Community Relations

Disney is doing a lot of things to support the community. They have several projects in the works that help the community in numerous ways; just about hitting all of the different kinds of people that could use some help or at least some cheering up from the “happiest place on Earth.” Therefore, there is not a single thing that Disney focuses its community support on; there are a lot of things that Disney focuses on, which I think is why they excel in community relations.

There are lots of ways that Disney does to show community support. They have different types of programs and shows such as Extreme Makeover and Extreme Home Makeover among lots of others. Disney also reaches out to a lot of companies and non-profits organizations to donate money and other things to help them help others.

There is a Disney Dreams program, which anyone can enter to win an array of prizes such as a Disney Cruise to a stay in Cinderella’s castle. Everyone is able to enter, but priority is usually given to those who need it most. http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/disneyparks/en_US/index?name=HomePage

Disney also implemented a Disney Princess Heart of Gold Campaign, which helps the community as well. It is a program in which people donate either money or toys, that is then donated to Toys for Tots for children who normally don’t receive gifts around the holiday season.

Additionally, Disney does a lot of work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which I believe is Disney’s biggest contribution to the community. Disney has been helping the Make-A-Wish Foundation since 1980 and is the most requested wish, with the Foundation granting over 5,000 Disney wishes per year. For the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s 25^th anniversary, Disney had a celebration for Make-A-Wish in Disneyland, where they granted their 50,000^th Disney wish. Also, in late 2007, Disney donated around 3 million dollars to Make-A-Wish. For the third installment of Pirates of the Caribbean, Disney had an open premiere to anyone who wanted to pay 1,500 dollars a ticket which was then donated to Make-A-Wish as well. http://www.wish.org/supporters/current_sponsors/mission_champion/the_walt_disney_comp
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Disney has more than one mission statement, but I would definitely say that their community relations programs support what they stand for as a company. Disney is always concerned about helping everyone and keeping smiles on people’s faces. Therefore, I believe that Disney is doing a great job with their community relations programs.

I don’t think that Disney would have to do much to better their relations with the community, but if they do, I would say that they should have more publicity. I would make sure that Disney would write more press releases so that everyone can see what Disney is doing to support the community and so that more people can also help the community as well.