BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) has committed $2.5 million to aid in humanitarian relief efforts across Florida, the Caribbean and other areas impacted by Hurricane Irma. The donation will support the disaster response and recovery efforts of the American Red Cross, UNICEF, Save the Children, and other nonprofit organizations.
“As millions of people now face the daunting challenge of putting their lives and communities back together in the wake of these historic hurricanes, they need our help,” said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. “We’re donating $2.5 million to support relief and recovery efforts in response to Hurricane Irma. This is in addition to nearly $16 million we raised after Hurricane Harvey to help ensure storm victims have the support needed to recover and rebuild.”
In addition to Disney’s donation announced today, contributions from Disney employees to eligible relief and recovery organizations will be matched dollar for dollar by Disney Employee Matching Gifts: A Program of The Walt Disney Company Foundation.
During Hurricane Irma, Walt Disney World and the Disney Cruise Line donated meals, provided storage for supplies and power-utility vehicles, donated bedding to shelters, and made rooms available for first responders. Disney will also be donating goods and services throughout the region as specific needs are identified. Additionally, this evening, in partnership with other media companies, ABC will broadcast Hand in Hand: A Benefit for Hurricane Relief, a telethon special to raise awareness and additional money to help the millions of people displaced and devastated by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
Following Hurricane Harvey, The Walt Disney Company raised almost $16 million to help storm victims facing the daunting challenge of rebuilding their lives and communities. This total reflects Disney’s direct donation to the American Red Cross, personal contributions from employees matched dollar for dollar by Disney, and money raised across the Company through a variety of initiatives, including social media outreach and campaigns in Disney Stores in support of the Day of Giving, which aired August 31 across all of our media platforms.
Disney works on an ongoing basis with numerous nonprofit organizations on emergency preparedness efforts, including sharing lifesaving information with families before and during emergencies, having supplies prepositioned and at-the-ready to respond to natural disasters, and providing resources to activate large-scale responses in the event of a disaster.
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