LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Aug. 12, 2005 – Make-A-Wish® Foundation of Central and Northern Florida will be able to make wishes come true for approximately 50 children with life-threatening medical conditions as the result of a $250,000 donation from Disney.  Make-A-Wish Foundation and Disney celebrated the contribution today at Disney’s Animal Kingdom by blowing out candles on a cake celebrating the 25^th anniversary of Make-A-Wish and 50 years of

Disney Theme Park magic.

        During a recent fundraising event held aboard a Disney Cruise Line ship, the Disney Magic, Disney raised $1 million dollars and then donated a surprise, additional $1 million to Make-A-Wish.  The funds given to Make-A-Wish of Central and

Northern Florida are part of Disney’s corporate donation.

        “Through Walt Disney World’s community initiative, DisneyHand – Helping Kids Shine, we are committed to helping build better futures for children. Encouraging a sense of compassion for others is a strong component of our efforts, and we’re pleased to be able to set an example for today’s youth by spreading our magic to children who have faced adversity,” said Diane Ledder, director of community relations for Walt Disney World Co.

        As part of today’s celebration, 17-year-old Andy from

Pennsylvania had his special wish granted as a Walt Disney Imagineer gave him a behind-the-scenes tour of the creation of Expedition Everest, a new high-speed train adventure scheduled to open in 2006 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

        “Disney’s gift will enable us to continue to bring hope, strength and joy to children with life-threatening medical conditions,” said Bradley Blystone, chairman of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and Northern Florida. “We look forward to continuing our special relationship with Disney.”

         Disney’s history of wish granting started when Walt Disney opened

Disneyland in 1955 and hosted children from around the world. In 1980, Disney joined together with the newly launched Make-A-Wish Foundation to help grant the Foundation’s first official wish. Today, Disney fulfills more than 5,000 wishes each year, with a Disney theme park visit remaining the Foundation’s most requested wish.

         Disney’s support of the Make-A-Wish Foundation this year also includes Wishes! – a compilation CD presented by Walt Disney Records and DisneyHand that features Barbra Streisand, Elton John, Tony Bennett and other recording artists singing classic Disney songs that reflect upon the power of wishes, friendship and hope. The CD also offers a newly recorded track, “Wishes,” performed by Peabo Bryson and Kimberley Locke. For each “Wishes!” CD purchased, DisneyHand donates $5 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

         DisneyHand, worldwide outreach for The Walt Disney Company, is dedicated to making the wishes of families and children a reality through public service initiatives, community outreach and volunteerism in the areas of compassion, learning, the arts and the environment. In 2004, DisneyHand contributed more than $165 million in cash, in-kind support and public service airtime globally, while Disney VoluntEARS contributed more than 461,000 hours to 1,852 outreach projects.

          Locally, Walt Disney World’s community initiative, DisneyHand – Helping Kids Shine, seeks to build better futures for children by creating healthy, guiding relationships with adults, providing constructive free-time activities, offering character-building opportunities, and encouraging a sense of compassion for others, while helping those children who face adversity. In 2004 alone, Walt Disney World Resort donated $24.7 million in cash and in-kind support to the community. Walt Disney World Cast Members also volunteered more than 185,000 hours to benefit local non-profit organizations. 

PHOTO: Disney and Make-A-Wish representatives celebrate 25 years of the Make-A-Wish Foundation with a cake.