Through DisneyHAND, its worldwide outreach, The Walt Disney Company works with all major wish-giving organizations, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation�, Dreams Come True, A Special Wish, Starlight Foundation and Give Kids the World, and does its best to fulfill each wish requested. Disney also works with many Orlando charities, as founder Walt Disney always encouraged company giving to the community. The Walt Disney Company also recently became a USO World Sponsor, supporting outreach and marketing efforts on behalf of the USO and its programs.

The USO

Disney company giving is providing more than $1 million in financial aid and in-kind support for the USO. Disney talent visited U.S. troops abroad in December, and the company has produced and featured a series of public service announcements focusing on how people can get involved. In addition, Disney has donated several thousand videos to military bases through the Red Cross and USO and will provide a combination of first-run movies and library classics for the troops. ESPN The Magazine has been distributed. Disney's radio properties are also providing support to the U.S. troops by partnering with the Voice of America and the Army Broadcasting Service to provide the two agencies with recorded messages that will be heard by U.S. troops stationed around the world.

The Starlight Foundation

Starlight Children�s Foundation is an international non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for seriously ill children and their families. Working with more than 850 hospitals worldwide, the Foundation provides an impressive menu of both in-patient and outpatient programs and services. A leader in delivering distractive entertainment therapies, The Starlight Foundation's programs benefit more than 85,000 children each month.

Orlando Charity

The Walt Disney company believes that company giving should start at home. That is why Disney is involved in many Orlando charities. For instance, Walt Disney World held its holiday toy drive at Downtown Celebration during the town's "Now Snowing Nightly" campaign. Visitors were invited to donate a toy to help support the Osceola County firefighters and their annual toy drive for disadvantaged children of Osceola County. Walt Disney World committed to match all the toys that were donated with its own donation of items.

In addition to donating toys, books, videos and school supplies, Disney Cruise Line donated computers and other equipment directly to area schools at various ports of call. As a special treat this year, Disney Cruise Line's shore-side Cast Members participated in Patrick Air Force Base's Tree Lighting Ceremony. Mickey and the team were part of this special celebration for the children of locally deployed troops, and toys were distributed to the children at the Air Force base.