Some 1,000,000 volunteers will be granted free entry tickets to Disney theme parks for offering a day of volunteer work in the frameworks of Disney’s recently announced promotion. The campaign will run throughout next year, and free day’s admission tickets will be given to guests who offer a day of volunteer work for an eligible volunteer project approved by the company.
Disney offers free tickets to 1,000,000 volunteers
The campaign titled “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” is a joint action of Disney and the HandsOn Network. Disney launched the volunteer promotion last Tuesday (Dec 22.) by sending 1,000 volunteers, including employees from Disney and Southwest Airlines, to work on projects around the country, from a Habitat for Humanity site in Los Angeles to the Bethune School of Excellence in Chicago.
Although the promotion was announced last week, but it will be live only on January 1, 2010. Once the campaign will be on its way, volunteers will be able to register at www.DisneyParks.com and search for approved volunteer projects to participate in. According to Disney company, several locations will be available, such as various US sites, Canada or Puerto Rico. After completing the volunteer work, participants will receive an email from Disney containing a link to print out a voucher to redeem at a theme park for a free one-day, one-park admission. Of course not everyone is interested in spending a day in a Disney theme park, so the company’s website wisely suggests: “…and if you’re unable to use the ticket, it can be donated to a charity designated by Disney.”
Although the whole family can be (and is encouraged to be) involved in the volunteer projects, official (ie. registered) volunteers have to be at least six years old. The number of free entry tickets offered by Disney is limited to 1,000,000 (quite a lot, we have to admit).
“We are trying to inspire 1 million people to volunteer in their communities and we’re inspiring them to do that by giving them a free day at a Disney park,” chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Jay Rasulo told the Associated Press in an interview. He called the promotion “very timely,” citing the increased needs of nonprofits in the weak economy, as well as President Obama’s national volunteering initiative. “The spirit of our country is very much behind that, whether it’s the first family or whether it’s the average family,” Jay Rasulo added.
HandsOn Network, that Disney chose as its partner for the current promotion has 70,000 affiliated agencies, from Habitat for Humanity to local food banks, churches, health care centers, and educational programs. It will be the HandsOn network that will professionally verify volunteer jobs before Disney will grant free tickets to participants. Examples of volunteer opportunities currently listed on HandsOn’s Web site range from drivers and bingo callers to a book drive organizer at a senior center in Scranton, Pa., to a docent at the Oregon Maritime Museum in Portland.
Via: Momlogic, Chicago Tribune, Disney