Disney T-shirts Go to the Dogs

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla, June 5, 2009 – As students around the world don caps and gowns to receive their diplomas, a special class of four-legged graduates recently received a different kind of symbol for their achievements.

Members of the Southeastern region graduating class of Canine Companions for Independence, (CCI), were the lucky recipients of some unique and heart-felt gifts from Disney Cast Members -- pet beds crafted from recycled Disney VoluntEARS t-shirts.

As the largest assistance dog organization in the world, CCI provides highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to people with physical or developmental disabilities. Graduation ceremonies represent the culmination of hard work, love and dedication of many great people including puppy-raisers, instructors, volunteers and CCI staff members and graduates.

The Disney pet bed project began last summer when a group of Cast Members came up with an innovative idea to reuse the materials from surplus yellow Disney VoluntEAR shirts. Through a creative approach, the team decided to shred approximately 7,500 shirts into strips and crochet them into cozy mats for these hard-working service companions. With skillful handiwork, the group creates pet beds that they donate to local animal shelters, rescues, rehabilitation centers and programs.
“It is such a great feeling to find an environmentally sound solution that pays it forward with the passion and talents of our Cast and I love that it provides the needed beds in pet shelters or with deserving service dogs,” said Jennifer Kupper, the community relations manager who oversees the VoluntEAR program at Walt Disney World Resort.
Cast Members from throughout the resort -- from chefs to animal keepers to IT professionals- - have gotten engaged in the project. Some have even enlisted the help of family members at home.

“Everyone from mom, dad, to little kids have been working on converting the shirts into beds,” said Kelly Ann Antalek, who is a project technical specialist at Walt Disney World Resort and has helped organize many of the volunteer projects. “It has really brought Cast Members and their families together in the spirit of helping others.”

Disney Cast Member Donald Ferro is an active volunteer with CCI and thought that the team’s handiwork would make great gifts for the hard-working service dogs. “As a volunteer, you really get to see the immediate impact that this organization makes in the lives of so many people,” said Ferro. I am so happy that the company I work for can support this wonderful organization.”

What originally started as a group of 20 Cast members cutting, sewing and crocheting has now grown to 250+ members that gather regularly to create hats, beds and blankets for people and animals in need. In the past the group has also knitted or crocheted caps for babies, chemotherapy patients and soldiers abroad.