Disney’s Decades of Social Impact

For over a century, The Walt Disney Company has been a source of joy and inspiration for children and communities around the world through the stories, characters, and experiences we create. That commitment extends beyond entertainment, reflecting a long-standing belief — championed by Disney CEO Bob Iger — that storytelling, creativity, and direct action can help make a meaningful impact in the world.

Since Iger’s tenure began in 2005, Disney has contributed more than $4 billion through cash and in-kind donations toward its social responsibility efforts, primarily supporting nonprofit organizations focused on the wellbeing of children, families, and communities via three pillars of positive impact: children’s hospitals, wish-granting, and supporting veterans and their families. These pillars include longstanding partners such as Make-A-Wish®, Starlight Children’s Foundation, Blue Star Families, and hundreds of nonprofit organizations around the globe focused on youth development and community resilience.

This work also extends to internal programs — such as the Disney College Program and Disney Aspire — that help develop employees and guide them toward greater personal and professional growth.

Together, these efforts reflect Disney’s enduring commitment to creating a positive impact in communities both near and far.

In 2018, Iger announced a $100 million investment to reinvent the patient and family experience in children’s hospitals across the globe. The first hospital to partner with Disney on a comprehensive patient experience approach was Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston — the largest children’s hospital in the United States. Notably, Walt Disney himself supported fundraising efforts for the hospital prior to its opening in 1954, underscoring a legacy of care that continues today. 

Disney’s creative expertise also plays a unique role in these efforts. In 2018, Walt Disney Imagineers, working alongside patients and the hospital’s Play Team, helped design The Disney Reef at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London — an immersive, underwater-themed outdoor play space featuring custom-designed sculptures of Disney characters. In 2024, Disney expanded its commitment at GOSH by announcing funding for a fully accessible MediCinema theater, bringing movie magic to patients, families, and caregivers alike. 

• In the Asia Pacific region in 2016, Disney announced a donation of over $3 million USD (RMB 20 million) tied to the opening of Shanghai Disney Resort to support Disney-themed play spaces and therapeutic activities in children’s hospitals across China.
• In collaboration with the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation and the Shanghai Charity Foundation, Disney has helped build 50 Disney Fun Houses across 41 cities in 24 provincial and municipal regions, bringing joy to children undergoing treatment and recovery.

Make-A-Wish

The Walt Disney Company is the world’s largest wish-granter through Make-A-Wish®, granting a wish every hour of every day. Disney has granted more than 170,000 wishes for critically ill children around the world. In the last decade alone, Disney has contributed more than $200 million through both cash and in-kind donations to Make-A-Wish America and Make-A-Wish International. 

Disney prides itself not just on the volume of wishes it grants, but also the way it constantly pushes the boundaries of what a wish can be. 

While many wishes take place at Disney theme parks, every segment of the company plays a role in bringing wishes to life. 

• ESPN: Through the My Wish series ESPN and Make-A-Wish have partnered for 18 seasons to connect children with their favorite athletes. 
• Disney Entertainment: Wish children have visited sets and met talent, including experiences with Luke Bryan on American Idol and Sebastian Stan on the set of Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts*. 

Veterans and Military Families

Disney’s respect for military service members and their families is deeply rooted in the company’s history. Walt Disney and Roy O. Disney both served their country during World War I, and honoring those who serve has remained a continual tradition through daily flag retreats since the opening of Disneyland Resort in 1955. 

Disney also provides funding and media support to a broad network of nonprofit partners dedicated to easing the transition from military to civilian life as well as supporting veterans and military families. These include: American Corporate Partners, Bob Woodruff Foundation, Blue Star Families, Disabled American Veterans, Fisher House Foundation, Operation Gratitude, Student Veterans of America, USO, Veterans in Media and Entertainment, VetsInTech, and Wounded Warrior Project. 

Caring for Employees and Cast Members

Disney has taken numerous steps to support the growth and development of its employees and cast members across all stages of their career journeys. 

Over the past two decades, the Disney College Program has evolved from a longstanding internship initiative into a large-scale, globally recognized talent pipeline supporting thousands of students each year. 

Originally established in 1981, the program has steadily expanded its scope, housing, and participant opportunities. What began with fewer than 300 students now welcomes thousands of participants per semester, illustrating its transformation into one of the most competitive and sought-after internships in the industry. 

The Walt Disney Company’s groundbreaking education investment program, Disney Aspire, is a comprehensive employer-funded initiative designed to empower hourly employees and cast members by removing traditional barriers to higher education.

Disney continues to invest in its people through a comprehensive ecosystem of leadership, learning, and recognition programs. From expanded LEAD and Leadership Development Pathways to a broad portfolio of internships and professional programs spanning disciplines, campuses, and global regions, Disney is building strong pipelines into longterm roles. This commitment is reinforced by a robust internal learning platform that supports continuous development for both hourly and salaried employees. 

Caring for Our Communities

The Walt Disney Company makes sure to care for both the communities that it directly operates in and those in which it has a less direct connection. 

Over the past two decades, Disney has committed more than $100 million in disaster response and recovery funding to nonprofit partners supporting communities affected by major hurricanes — including Milton, Helen, and Irma — earthquakes in Yunnan and Nepal, fires such as those at Notre Dame Cathedral, and the devastating Los Angeles wildfires in January 2025. 

In response to the Los Angeles wildfires, Disney acted quickly to lead the entertainment industry’s response with a $15 million commitment to support immediate relief and longterm rebuilding in the community it has called home for more than 100 years. 

Disney also supports employees impacted by disasters through the Disney Employee Relief Fund, which has provided more than $5 million in grant assistance since the program began in 2021. The company maintains year-round disaster readiness through partnerships with organizations such as the American Red Cross, UNICEF, and Feeding America, helping ensure rapid access to food, water, and emergency aid. 

Disney continues to invest in long-term community solutions, including affordable housing. Through DisneylandForward — a multiyear public planning effort to update Disneyland Resort’s existing development approvals — the company made a $30 million investment in affordable housing, which represents the largest affordable housing investment tied to a nonresidential project in Anaheim’s history.

Disney has long supported healthier choices for families through a series of thoughtful initiatives informed by expert guidance. 

In 2006, with guidance from leading health experts, Disney introduced Nutritional Guidelines for children ages three and older. In 2010, the company launched Disney Magic of Healthy Living, a national multimedia initiative supporting parents in raising healthy, happy kids. These efforts expanded in 2012 with the introduction of Disney Check, helping families identify healthier food and beverage options that meet Disney Nutritional Guideline Criteria in stores, online, on-air, at Disney theme parks and resorts, and other places where Disney products are sold. 

Environmental stewardship is another cornerstone of Disney’s impact. Since 1995, the Disney Conservation Fund (DCF) has contributed more than $141 million to protect wildlife and wild places and connect families with nature worldwide. DCF-supported programs have helped protect more than 300 million acres of habitat — an area equivalent to 10,000 Walt Disney World Resorts — and provided millions of kids with nature experiences.  

Through relationships with organizations such as the International Fund for Animal Welfare, DCF has also supported animal rescue efforts during disasters, helping more than 200,000 animals across 39 countries.