Annual Holiday Toy Drive in Progress at Walt Disney World Resort

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Dec. 9, 2009 – With deserving local children in mind this holiday season, Disney Cast Members are moonlighting as Santa’s helpers by collecting new toys for the U.S. Marine Corps’ annual Toys for Tots campaign. The annual toy drive is meant to send a message of hope to youngsters by ensuring they have at least one new gift to open during the holidays.

In addition to contributing toys, Cast Members also volunteer to help the Marines with the charitable campaign by registering families, sorting and stocking shelves with collected toys and assisting with toy distribution to families in need.

“It’s just amazing the big hearts the Disney Cast Members have,” said First Sgt. Michael Diaz, who heads up the 2009 Central Florida Toys for Tots campaign. “As we head into the second holiday season of this difficult economy, there are even more people in need; these donations will make a big difference in the lives of thousands of kids.”

Walt Disney World Resort will give its 2009 total toy contribution to Toys for Tots on December 15. This year, Central Florida Toys for Tots expects to assist thousands of families from Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties in celebrating the holiday season with gifts for their children.

The Walt Disney Company’s involvement with the Toys for Tots began more than 60 years ago when Walt Disney and his animators designed the original Toys for Tots logo that is still used today.

To find out more about how you can contribute, visit http://www.toysfortotscentralflorida.org/.