Walt Disney World Resort is wrapping up a season of giving to Central Florida nonprofit organizations, and, just this week, the last two groups to receive Disney grants were announced.
The Walt Disney World construction management and hydroponics teams opened their doors to give students from two local nonprofits—Habitat for Humanity and Center for Independent Living—a behind the scenes peek at their careers. Both nonprofits offer development programs and youth workforce training, and were recently given Disney grants that total a combined $175,000.
Students from Habitat for Humanity’s Youth Construction Academy joined Walt Disney Imagineering for behind-the-scenes construction visits to the Disney Skyliner and to Disney’s Riviera Resort, which will open in December. The Youth Construction Academy offers high school students construction learning opportunities as they help to build affordable housing units for their community. The students also earn industry certificates to help get their careers started.
Students from the Center for Independent Living’s High School, High Tech program joined the Behind the Seeds tour at Epcot, which invites guests to explore the future of agriculture. The High School, High Tech program will use their $75,000 Disney grant to focus their future lessons on hydroponics. Cast members at Behind the Seeds were the perfect tour guides as they shared their mutual passion for plant science and studied with the students the many plants that call Epcot home.
A total of $800,000 was granted by Disney to help Central Florida community programs that range from career development for students to assisted therapy for veterans and individuals with special needs.
Source: Disney Parks Blog
