Disney Donates $15 Million to California Wildfire Relief, Supports Impacted Communities

Jan 10, 2025 in "The Walt Disney Company"

Posted: Friday January 10, 2025 7:00pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

The Walt Disney Company has pledged $15 million to support wildfire relief efforts following the devastating fires across Southern California. The company's donation will aid organizations providing essential services on the ground, including the American Red Cross, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

“As this tragedy continues to unfold, The Walt Disney Company is committed to supporting our community and our employees as we all work together to recover and rebuild from this unbelievable devastation,” said Bob Iger, CEO, The Walt Disney Company. “Walt Disney came to Los Angeles with little more than his limitless imagination, and it was here that he chose to make his home, pursue his dreams, and create extraordinary storytelling that means so much to so many people around the world. We are proud to provide assistance to this resilient and vibrant community in this moment of need.”

In a statement, Disney emphasized its deep ties to the region and commitment to those affected:

The history of The Walt Disney Company is inextricably linked to the greater Los Angeles region, and the destruction from the devastating fires affecting thousands in our area is truly heartbreaking.

We will be supporting vital organizations offering essential services on the ground, including the American Red Cross, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, among others. Additionally, we’ve been working around the clock to ensure the safety and well-being of our employees, many of whom have been impacted by these fires, and we intend to provide further resources to our Employee Relief Fund to help those facing hardship as a result of this crisis.

Beyond critical relief efforts, we will be working closely with the business community to find ways to support important rebuilding efforts in the region.

We want to express our overwhelming gratitude to the heroic firefighters and first responders from across the area and around the country whose unbelievable courage and professionalism have been a source of tremendous encouragement and pride this week. Likewise, we are grateful for the outstanding local reporters at KABC and elsewhere who have been a vital resource to all.

While the fires continue to rage and the full extent of the damage won’t be understood for some time, our hearts are with everyone across Southern California who has been affected by the destructive fires, and we urge residents to remain vigilant and follow safety guidance from local officials. This community’s strength is rooted in its people, and we are proud to be a part of it and offer our support.

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DCBakerNov 17, 2025

Disney shared more about what the company is doing to help rebuild from the LA wildfires: The Walt Disney Company’s Imagineers — the creative minds behind some of the world’s most iconic experiences — are applying their visionary talents to help rebuild and reimagine public spaces that were lost in this year’s devastating wildfires across Los Angeles. As part of its ongoing $15 million commitment to help LA recover from the disaster, Disney is directing $5 million to support the reopening of Altadena’s Charles White Park, which was destroyed in the January blaze. The revitalized park will feature a new community center and an enhanced playground infused with Disney magic to bring joy to families in the area for its anticipated reopening in 2026. Since early this year, the Imagineers have been working closely with County staff to help reimagine the park in several ways, including site planning, landscape architecture, and playground design. Some Imagineers tragically lost their own homes in the fires, making their contributions to the community’s recovery even more meaningful. In addition to Charles White Park, Imagineers are supporting recovery efforts at two additional severely damaged Altadena parks. “Los Angeles has been home to The Walt Disney Company since its founding more than a century ago, which is why we felt a special responsibility to help this community rebuild in the aftermath of the devastating wildfires earlier this year,” said Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company. “I’m incredibly proud of our Imagineers who are volunteering their time and talents to help reimagine cherished public spaces like Charles White Park. Their work is not only a testament to Disney’s creative spirit, but also to our deep commitment to our neighbors throughout this region. We hope this effort brings comfort, joy, and a sense of renewal to the Altadena community for years to come.” Read more at the link below: https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/imagineers-altadena-wildfires-rebuilding/

DCBakerJan 15, 2025

From a new New York Times report: "As Disney reopened its corporate headquarters in Burbank on Tuesday, the monumental “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” statues holding up the roof grinned their usual grins. Inside, though, it was not quite business as usual. At least 64 Disney employees have lost their homes in the wildfires. They include the president of Disney Branded Television (“Mickey Mouse Clubhouse”) and the president of Walt Disney Music, which handles songs for animated and live-action movies. Hundreds more remain evacuated from their homes, including Robert A. Iger, Disney’s chief executive. Mr. Iger, of course, still has a $200 billion, multinational company to run. Disney, like other entertainment companies based in Los Angeles, has seen minimal disruption to most of its businesses. But Mr. Iger has also been leading Disney’s response to the fires, which has included — but goes far beyond — the donation of $15 million to local disaster recovery organizations. “We want to help rebuild,” he said in an interview. “Can we help in setting up temporary schools? Can our Imagineers help design new town centers? Rebuilding is not just about money. It’s about ingenuity and determination.” In terms of immediate employee assistance, about 100 displaced Disney workers — from assistants to the company’s general counsel — have been staying in hotel rooms at Disneyland, where operations have not been interrupted. (It’s 30 miles south of Los Angeles.) Disney’s employee relief fund provides up to $1,500 for basic household necessities. Disney is also giving some employees an additional $2,500 as a lump sum for incidental expenses. For anyone at Disney who cannot immediately return home when the evacuation orders are lifted — some houses are gone, while others require extensive repairs — the company is providing two months of free furnished housing, among other benefits. Disney has also opened its studio wardrobe warehouses to employees who need clothes and shoes, according to Sonia Coleman, the company’s chief of human resources." https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/01/14/us/fires-los-angeles-california#bob-iger-on-disneys-relief-efforts-can-we-help-in-setting-up-temporary-schools

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