Does your family volunteer in your neighborhood? Do you help feed the hungry at your local soup kitchen? Or do you know someone that is involved in a community service program? Then you may want to consider participating in a nationwide search for the Volunteer Family of the Year.
The Points of Light Foundation and Disney are launching a nationwide search for that family that goes above and beyond the call of community service and volunteering. From now until June 20th, 2019, schools and nonprofits registered for the Disney Family Volunteering Rewards Program will be able to nominate a family that not only works together but volunteers to get the job done.
The family will be recognized and will be able to complete a special service project at the Walt Disney World Resort this November for Family Volunteer Day.
Bob Chapek, Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products says in a statement, “we believe that when families play, explore, learn and work together, the scene is set for magical memories that last a lifetime.” Chapek added that “family volunteering deepens bonds, and strengthens communities – and with a little pixie dust in the form of a visit to our parks. This program has made a significant difference.”
A significance difference indeed. Since the Disney Family Volunteering Rewards Program launched last year, they have mobilized nearly 500,000 volunteers, representing more than 84,000 families who generated more than two million hours of volunteer service. There have also been more than 10,000 projects completed in all 50 states.
The president and CEO of the Points of Light Foundation, Natalye Paquin, echoed Chapek's sentiments in a statement. Paquin said, “engaging families in service is a pathway to a life-long commitment of civic engagement. The leader added that “we're excited to continue to celebrate and honor families and organizations who share a commitment of getting involved in giving back.”
The Points of Light Foundation and the Walt Disney Company have had a long history of partnering together. President George H.W. Bush visited Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida in September 1991 where he presided over the first gathering of his Daily Points of Light Award recipients, recognizing outstanding community volunteers from across the United States.
In 2004 President Bush's son, President George W. Bush honored the Walt Disney Company itself as a Daily Point of Light.
Besides searching for the Volunteer Family of 2019, Disney Parks and Points of Light are engaged in a program to reward nonprofits and schools in America with Disney One-Day Park Hopper tickets for hosting or participating in family volunteering activities. Eligible groups create and register projects, track family volunteers and complete works to receive the complimentary park tickets. The more volunteers participating in your project, the more tickets you can earn, up to 20 passes.
For more information on the Disney Family Volunteering Reward Program or the search for the 2019 Disney and Points of Light Volunteer Family of the Year, or to get a school or nonprofit you know involved you can visit PointsOfLight.org/DisneyRewards
