This past weekend, Walt Disney World cast members supported the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando at the nonprofit’s annual Paws in the Park fundraiser, placing as one of the top fundraising teams at the event.
What is Paws in the Park?
Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando holds this community fundraiser every year at Lake Eola Park in Downtown Orlando. It’s the largest pet festival in the United States and every dollar raised supports the nonprofit’s mission to home thousands of animals, offer low-cost veterinary care and manage shelter intake.
How does Disney support Paws in the Park?
Disney has participated in Paws in the Park for almost two decades with more than 300 cast members taking part this year. Many cast members have even adopted pets of their own at the event and from other rescues, including Russ Brown, who attends every year with his rescue dog.
“I’ve brought my dog Barkley here every year since we’ve rescued him. It’s our favorite annual tradition to do together because we get to support rescues and animals who are looking for their forever homes,” Russ said.
How else does Disney give back to Florida pets?
Disney VoluntEARS — a group made up of Disney employees and cast members who donate their time to give back to their communities — provide extra care and comfort to animals year-round at Pet Alliance shelters across Florida. Since 2014, cast members have spent more than 31,000 hours giving back alongside this organization.
Many cast members have also turned their volunteer hours into monetary donations through Disney VoluntEARS Grants. After volunteering at least ten hours, cast members are eligible to donate $100 to a nonprofit of their choosing through the program.
Pet Alliance is one of the top Disney VoluntEARS Grants recipients with more than $300,000 donated through the program since 2015.
“Disney and their extraordinary VoluntEARS have made a world of a difference for the animals at Pet Alliance,” Steve Bardy, Executive Director of Pet Alliance, said. “Their years of support, unwavering dedication and compassion has helped us so much. We are so grateful.”
Learn about all the ways Walt Disney World is creating happiness in the Sunshine State at DisneyFlorida.com.