Disney's back-to-school campaign gains support with actress Sheryl Lee Ralph from the sitcom 'Abbott Elementary' contributing her vocal support.
Disney has launched a major back-to-school initiative aimed at supporting under-resourced schools and teachers across the United States. This comprehensive campaign will provide essential supplies, books, and funding for classroom projects in all 50 states.
The initiative partners with two key education nonprofits: DonorsChoose and First Book. Through DonorsChoose, teachers can post classroom project requests, and Disney will help fund these projects by matching public donations. First Book, on the other hand, will supply thousands of new books to low-income communities.
The focus of this initiative is on arts and storytelling projects, empowering teachers and students to engage creatively. Emmy Award-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph lends her voice to inspire public support for this campaign.
Disney VoluntEARS, the company's employee volunteer programme, will also contribute to school supply drives, donating resources to underserved communities.
In addition, Disney is providing extra funding to schools impacted by the 2025 Los Angeles-area wildfires.
Since 2000, Disney and First Book have donated over 93 million books, reinforcing Disney’s long-standing commitment to educational support. This commitment is further demonstrated through the collaboration with DonorsChoose, which allows teachers serving students in low-income areas to request resources directly, helping to address disparities in classroom funding.
Alix Guerrier, CEO of DonorsChoose, shared that at school, students can channel their talents and learn how to authentically be themselves, often requiring teachers to have resources to encourage this.
"Abbott Elementary" stars Chris Perfetti and William Stanford Davis were recently pictured at a VoluntEARS event, showing their support for this initiative. The popular show returns to ABC this fall and is currently streaming on Hulu.
This initiative aims to ensure that both students and educators have the resources needed for a successful academic year, fostering a joyful and supportive back-to-school experience nationwide.
[1] Disney's Back-to-School Initiative
[2] Disney Partners with First Book and DonorsChoose
[3] Disney Supports Arts and Storytelling in Under-resourced Schools
[4] Disney's Back-to-School Initiative Helps Schools Impacted by Wildfires
[5] Disney VoluntEARS Contribute to School Supply Drives
The Disney Back-to-School Initiative, in partnership with First Book and DonorsChoose, is centered around education-and-self-development and personal-growth, as it aims to provide resources needed for learning and creativity in under-resourced schools. By matching public donations via DonorsChoose and distributing books from First Book, the initiative empowers teachers and students to pursue arts and storytelling projects for personal growth.
