Alecia Foster
SOUTHEAST GLENDALE -- With so many children jumping for joy at New
Horizons Monday morning, you'd think it was Christmas morning.
Executives from The Walt Disney Co. arrived at the facility bearing
gifts.
"I got a yo-yo!" exclaimed one excited young boy as he dug into a
Disney gift bag stuffed full of goodies.
But for all the pleasure the toys brought the kids, they were just a
small part of what the facility received from the company.
Disney's foundation has donated about $30,000 for new playground
equipment. On Monday, Disney VoluntEARS spent the morning painting an
extensive mural on the playground's cinder-block wall.
"It's great as a company to be able to give back to the community,"
said Bob Iger, president and chief operating officer of The Walt Disney
Co. Iger was one of about 20 VoluntEARS picking up a paintbrush to work
on "The Little Mermaid"-themed mural.
Thanks to a little pre-painting, a drab gray wall was transformed into
the crystal-blue underwater world of Ariel, the Little Mermaid. It was up
to the VoluntEARS to bring it to life with colorful fish and other sea
characters like Triton, Sebastian and Flounder.
Disney Chief Executive Officer Michael Eisner said volunteering has
long been a part of the Disney culture.
"Walt [Disney, the company's founder] instituted a lot of volunteer
programs," he said, adding that the company continues the tradition to
this day.
"We do it in the communities in which we work and the communities in
which we entertain," Eisner said.
Many top executives and others throughout the company didn't seem to
mind getting out of the office for awhile.
"It's a fun thing to do," Eisner said.
Maria Rochart, executive director and founder of New Horizons, which
provides day care, after-school programs and counseling to low-income
children, said the center has had a long relationship with the company.
"They've always helped us with Halloween and Christmas parties and
other things," Rochart said.
Those at the facility were thrilled when they learned the foundation
would be donating $30,000 for new playground equipment.
"After that, I got the call that we were chosen for the mural," she
said. "I said, 'That will go perfect!"'
The mural project is actually part of a bigger company initiative
celebrating Walt Disney's 100th birthday, said Jody Dreyer, senior vice
president of corporate public service for Disney.
As part of the "100 Years of Magic" celebration, the company has
committed to helping 100,000 children in need through projects across the
country, she said.
The community events and projects will all lead up to the celebration
of Disney's birthday in December.
