AllEars.Net’s Jack Spence and Mike Scopa attended the Give a Day, Get a Disney Day press event held Thursday, February 11, 2010. The following are images from the day’s activities.

This week Walt Disney World’s “Give a Day Get a Disney Day” promotion was given its official launch with a huge celebration of volunteerism at Epcot.

The celebration was held in what was formerly known as the Millennium Village portion of the United Kingdom pavilion in World Showcase — now called World Showplace.

A few thousand people were in attendance, notably volunteer families elected from across the United States, representing their home state. These volunteer families were being honored by Walt Disney World and their partner in this venture, the Points of Light Institute and the Hands On Network.

Walt Disney World Ambassador Introduces Day’s Events

Tom Staggs, Chairmen of Walt Disney World Parks and Resort opened up the ceremony by welcoming everyone with a special welcome to these families. He had a little help from Kermit the Frog who made a special surprise appearance.

WDW Ambassador Talks to Kermit the Frog about Volunteering

Staggs focused on how the theme for 2010 was volunteerism and how the goal was to inspire one million people to go out and do volunteer service for their community.

He then smiled and reported that as of this week 600,000 volunteers have already committed to or have already performed volunteer service within their community.

He mentioned how Walt Disney World’s own cast members have served as role models for volunteering and reported that over the last 25 years cast members have contributed over 5.5 million hours of volunteer service to their communities including most recent efforts to help the people of Haiti.

Walt Disney World is partnering with the Hands On Network and the Points of Light Institute in this push to inspire volunteerism across the country.

The Hands On Network has over 70,000 organizations answering the call to serve. It’s the largest volunteer network in the world.

Staggs introduced Co-Founder of the Hand On Network and Points of Light Institute CEO, Michelle Nunn who addressed the audience.

Michelle Nunn, co-founder of HandsOn Network and CEO of the Points of Light Institute

Nunn talked about the spirit of volunteerism and how this partnering with Walt Disney World had created an “extraordinary lift” for volunteerism across the country.

She proclaimed this partnership to be the most creative volunteer/corporate initiative effort she has ever experienced and applauded everyone’s effort.

She paid homage to the “amazing families” in the audience and talked about just how much this program has accomplished so far.

Over 10,000 community organizations have signed on since the announcement of the program.

The Hands On Network in Jacksonville, FLA has collected eight tons of canned food representing 10,000 meals.

Volunteer families have donated 4000 books for after school programs and have created 800 disaster kits.

Over 60,000 blankets have been collected for those in need.

Nunn closed out by saying Disney’s “Give a Day Get a Disney Day” promotion and partnership with the Hands On network is really “helping dreams come true.”

JAMMitors were on hand

Chairman Staggs stood in front of a wall of white balloons and mentioned that behind the balloons was a structure made of over 150,000 cans of food that will be boxed up, loaded onto trucks, and delivered to food banks in Central Florida, Miami, and Atlanta.

The 150,000 plus cans represented 70,000 meals and was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the Largest Structure of Canned Goods Ever Assembled.

He then introduced Ty Pennington, star of ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” to help reveal the structure.

Pennington asked for some helpers and Mickey Mouse and Goofy were happy to assist.

Amid fanfare and cries of “Raise those Balloons” the several hundred balloons rose to the ceiling to reveal an enormous wall of canned foods with Mickey, Donald, and Goofy peeking over the edge.

Mickey Mouse canned goods sculpture

Pluto canned goods sculpture

Canned Goods for the Record-Breaking Sculpture

Later on several of the Disney Channel stars came on hand to help put together disaster kits for Haiti and help box and load the canned goods onto a special truck convoy that was led around World Showcase by Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and Sweetums.

Friends for Change, Project Green — Hands On Activities

Haiti Care Kits were Assembled

Mike Scopa Interviews Michelle Nunn, co-founder of HandsOn Network and CEO of the Points of Light Institute

Honorary VoluntEARS Cavalcade at Epcot

Be sure to check back later for more on this event, and Mike Scopa’s interview with Michelle Nunn.

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