Disney's Back-to-School Drive Hits 1 Million Supply Milestone

Walt Disney World's annual Back-to-School Supply Drive has reached an impressive milestone. Over the past decade, the drive has collected more than 1 million school supplies for local teachers and students in Central Florida.

This year's collection saw cast members donate over 155,000 supplies to A Gift For Teaching, a nonprofit that provides free educational resources to educators and families throughout the region. The donated items will be distributed across five counties: Orange, Osceola, Lake, Seminole, and Polk.

A Gift For Teaching President Jane Thompson praised Disney's efforts, saying 'We're committed to removing barriers to learning by ensuring teachers and students have free access to the supplies they need to succeed.' The organization has been a long-time recipient of Disney's support, with Walt Disney World being one of its largest and longest-standing donors.

Disney VoluntEARS gathered to count and sort the donated supplies before they reached classrooms. Tajiana Ancora-Brown, Director of External Affairs at Walt Disney World, noted that 'Every child deserves the opportunity to start the school year feeling prepared and confident.' The Back-to-School Supply Drive is part of a broader investment in education by Disney, which has also committed $1.3 million to programs across Central Florida.