By Betsy Sanchez, Disneyland Resort
ANAHEIM, Calif., Sept. 19, 2011 – Disneyland Resort today began accepting applications from kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers in all Orange County school districts for its enhanced Disneyland CREATE (Creative Resources Enabling Arts through Education) Grants program.
Formerly known as Disneyland Resort Enabling Grants, the CREATE program provides classroom teachers with needed funds for projects, programs and materials that directly support student involvement in the visual and performing arts.
Applications are being accepted through Nov. 4 and can be accessed by visiting www.disneyland.com/publicaffairs. The grants, up to $600 for teachers in Orange County and up to $750 for those in Anaheim, will be named by Dec. 1. To date, through its grants programs the Disneyland Resort has contributed more than $1.5 million to arts education.
"Over the years, Disneyland grants have helped our students develop the capacity to create, perform, and respond with understanding, critical judgment, and appreciation for the arts,” said Phil R. Mortensen, visual and performing arts coordinator for Placentia Yorba Linda Unified School District. “We, as teachers and administrators, applaud Disneyland's support and acknowledge that arts' learning has been greatly enhanced through this program.”
An additional $50,000 in funding has been added this year, bringing the total amount available to $125,000. The program also has expanded to all Orange County school districts, a first since the program’s inception in 1994.
Also new this year is the involvement of DonorsChoose.org to facilitate the program. The non-profit organization engages in charitable fundraising and disbursement of monies to public schools. DonorsChoose.org streamlines the granting process by coordinating all aspects of selected requests. This ensures teachers can begin executing their projects immediately.
Source: Disneyland Resort
Located on approximately 500 acres in Anaheim, Calif., the Disneyland Resort features two spectacular theme parks – Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and Disney California Adventure park – plus the Downtown Disney District composed of unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences. The Resort’s three hotels are the 948-room Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the 969-room Disneyland Hotel and the 481-room Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel. With 21,000 Cast Members, the Disneyland Resort is Orange County’s largest employer and generates $4.7 billion for the Southern California economy. The Resort has welcomed more than 600 million guests since opening on July 17, 1955. For detailed information about the Disneyland Resort, please visit www.disneyland.com.
