As Disney Celebrates America‘s 250th anniversary, the company is building upon a nearly 15-year relationship with Blue Star Families with a $2.5 million donation that was previously announced to create even more magical moments for U.S. military families nationwide; including special events and movie screenings throughout the country’s semiquincentennial.
On May 17, Disney and Blue Star Families hosted their largest activation to date — a milestone Blue Star Books event at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The event that promotes reading, fun and storytelling was the 25th such event since Disney and Blue Star families first joined forces in 2011.
Both organizations were grateful for the hospitality of The Library of Congress for hosting this milestone event as the country celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States. Disney brought the magic as military families were welcomed to this storied location by beloved Disney Characters including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Belle, and Sofia the First.
As part of the special occasion, Disney VoluntEARS invited children to select from thousands of donated Disney and National Geographic books. Each child was also delighted to receive a Mickey Mouse plush.
The participating military families experienced once-in-a lifetime moments including a special story time with Belle in the world’s largest library for military children, creating an unforgettable experience filled with imagination and meaningful connection. Families also enjoyed a variety of activities, from coloring to Toy Story–themed crafts.
“Disney has been a trusted partner to military families for years, creating moments of joy, connection, and belonging for the families who serve alongside our nation’s service members,” said Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO of Blue Star Families. “It has been an incredible honor to work alongside Disney to help military families feel seen, supported, and connected through every chapter of military life, from deployments to relocations and everything in between.”
A Legacy of Disney Celebrating Blue Star Families
Disney has proudly supported Blue Star Families’ “Blue Star Books” program since 2011, donating more than 370,000 books to enrich military families at military bases across the nation. Recent events included visits to Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base in Oceanside, CA and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii. Through this longstanding relationship, Disney has contributed to programs that strengthen connections and create meaningful experiences for military families.
“Stories have a powerful way of bringing people together — especially for military families navigating time apart,” said Lisa Haines, Senior Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at The Walt Disney Company. “Through our work with Blue Star Families, we’re honored to create moments of connection, comfort and joy, continuing Disney’s longstanding admiration for those who serve and the families who stand beside them.”
Active-duty military families are called a “Blue Star Family” because of the long-standing tradition of displaying a service flag with a blue star for each family member serving in the U.S. Armed Forces — symbolizing honor, service, and sacrifice while a loved one is on active duty.
Creating Welcome Kits for Military Families Coast-to-Coast
During National Military Appreciation Month in May, Disney VoluntEARS at various Disney locations nationwide are helping Blue Star Families by assembling 4,000 “Welcome Kits” for military families.
Disney and Blue Star Families developed the Welcome Kits program in 2024. The kits are specifically designed for active-duty military families who move to new duty stations frequently due to the needs of military life.
On May 5, at Disney’s Yacht Club at Walt Disney World Resort, cast members gathered to assemble 2,000 Welcome Kits. On May 13, Disney VoluntEARS from the Disneyland Resort packaged another 1,000 kits.
On May 14, Disney VoluntEARS gathered in Washington, D.C., to prepare an additional 1,000 kits with the help of Capitol Hill members and staff. These events showcased the power of teamwork and, most importantly, provided meaningful support to military communities.
Full Circle Moment with Presentation of Welcome Kits
The Welcome Kits prepared on Capitol Hill were distributed to military families during the Library of Congress event on May 17. The remaining kits will be delivered to Blue Star Families Chapters and distributed to their members around the country.
The 4,000 welcome kits created by Disney VoluntEARS this month alone nearly doubled all those made to date, bringing the total to more than 7,000 kits assembled in support of military families since the program began. Additional kits will be created later this year.
The Walt Disney Company’s efforts with Blue Star Families are part of the company’s long history of supporting U.S. military service members, veterans, and their families, dating back more than a century to founders Walt and Roy O. Disney, who both served their country during World War I.
This commitment is being highlighted as part of “Disney Celebrates America,” a company-wide initiative spanning programming, storytelling, and experiences across its iconic brands and businesses in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. To learn more about how Disney is commemorating this milestone, click here.
