Disney Surprises Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Florida With $50,000 Grant

Walt Disney World Resort honored Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Florida with one of its top Disney’s Helping Kids Shine grants – the Dianna Morgan Children’s Champion Award – in recognition of the magic the organization creates through youth outreach and mentoring.

Mickey Mouse, along with Dianna Morgan, and other Disney Cast Members arrived at the Big Brothers Big Sisters office this morning with a prize patrol to award $50,000 to the non-profit agency.

“We couldn’t be more surprised or thrilled,” said Jennifer Rider, Chief Executive Officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Florida. “Thanks to Disney’s funding, we’ll be able to maintain our support staff that make and sustain our mentoring matches. They play a critical role in helping set our youth up for future success.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Florida serves nearly 1,000 of the region’s most vulnerable children – those from single parent homes, families living in poverty and households where a parent is incarcerated. Big Brothers Big Sisters’ professionals recruit and carefully match volunteers and kids and provide ongoing support (especially in the first year) to the volunteers, kids and their families. Independent research shows kids with Big Brothers Big Sisters mentors are more likely than their peers to finish/succeed in school, avoid violence and resist other negative, harmful behaviors and activities.

Disney’s Helping Kids Shine grants celebrates those who commit their time and talent to making a difference in the lives of Central Florida’s children. One of its top awards – the Dianna Morgan Children’s Champion Award – is in honor of Dianna Morgan, a children’s advocate who forged relationships among Disney, community members and leaders throughout Florida during her 30-year career with the company.

During the next two weeks, Disney will send prize patrols across Central Florida to surprise, reward and recognize a total of 34 Disney’s Helping Kids Shine Grants recipients chosen by a panel of judges made up of Central Florida community leaders and Walt Disney World Cast Members. Prize patrol reports and pictures will be posted on www.shineontoday.com so you can follow along on the journey across Central Florida and track the total giving.

To learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters, visit http://www.bbbs.org