Disney Continues Support of the Troops and their Families During the Holiday Season During the holiday season, Cast Members and businesses throughout the Company continue to do their part to show their support of the troops. Disney's Operation Uplift for the Holidays This unique postcard writing program started in 1995 during Operation Desert Storm when a Disneyland Resort Cast Member read a letter in the newspaper from a serviceman who said that the troops didn't get much mail, but when they did they knew people back at home cared and it meant the world to them. That struck a chord with this Cast Member/employee and he began writing to the troops to thank them for their efforts and to let them know people at home did indeed care about them. The program has spread to Disney sites throughout the country and over 50,000 postcards have been sent to troops around the world. Disney VoluntEARS around the Company are conducting Operation Uplift holiday card drives to send to troops around the world. Recipient sites include USO Kuwait, USO Europe, USO Pacific, Walter Reed Medical Center, Bethesda Naval Hospital and units in Iraq. At the Disney Family Holiday Party at the Disneyland Resort, attendees will also be encouraged to fill out cards with holiday messages for the troops. Feature Animation will hold a special Operation Uplift card writing campaign for their employees and their families to give to troops through the USO Kuwait. The cards will include phone cards. DisneyHand Supports Walter Reed Hospital and Other Military Hospitals Through the Fisher House Foundation In Washington, DC, ABC Radio 630 WMAL Talk Radio selected the Fisher House Foundation as a community project for the station during the holiday season. The Fisher House is a "home-away-from-home" for the families of military personnel who are being treated at Bethesda Medical Center, Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Andrews Air Force Base. The station began an on-air fundraising campaign with a remote broadcast from Walter Reed Army Medical Center and a donation of $25,000 from DisneyHand and Disney VoluntEARS. WMAL's goal was to raise $500,000 and by the end of the campaign, they had succeeded in collecting an impressive $1,667,399.60. Disney VoluntEARS from the Washington, DC area have been involved with the Fisher House through a variety of projects including preparing an early Thanksgiving dinner for the residents at the Bethesda Naval Fisher House. Disney characters and VoluntEARS are scheduled to visit the Fisher House Foundation in February 2005 as part of the kick off of the Season of Compassion. KLOS Radio Collection for the Troops - Southern California KLOS Radio conducted an on-air promotion to encourage listeners to donate DVDs and CDs for the troops overseas to be distributed through the Camp Pendleton YMCA. The station's successful collection resulted in a donation of 9,000 DVDs & CDs, 200 DVD players, 200 CD players and one 53" plasma tv. Toys for Tots Disney's support for Toys for Tots has spanned the past 56 years - ever since Walt Disney became one of the original sponsors of the foundation which strives to ensure that each underserved child in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico receives a toy during the holiday season. DisneyHand supported The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation toy drive with a donation of $110,000. Michael Eisner recorded a Toys for Tots holiday message that will be featured during the airing of The Santa Clause on ABC's The Wonderful World of Disney in December. Cast members from ABC's According to Jim and other ABC shows lent their talents to Toys for Tots' mission by taping public service announcements that will air on the ABC Television Network and its affiliates throughout the holiday season. ESPN "Cold Pizza" will run a campaign in support of Toys for Tots during the holiday season. Disney will also donate merchandise and hold an employee toy drive. Last year, DisneyHand's monetary and toy donations to Toys for Tots totaled approximately $1.4 million and have hopes to replicate that support again this year. Walt Disney World Helps Troops through the USO Dallas Fort Worth Disney VoluntEARS from Walt Disney World are currently working with the USO in Dallas Fort Worth Airport to find ways they can support the troops being deployed overseas. Used book drive - set up a used book collection where Cast Members can send gently used books to the USO Dallas Fort Worth to be given to troops. Holiday card drive - as troops are traveling through the USO Center, the USO would like to make holiday cards and stamps available so that the troops can take them with them to send to their loved ones back at home. Additional Military Support throughout the Year DisneyHand - World Sponsor of the USO Disney and ESPN continue to show the company's support of U.S. service members and their families as World Sponsors of the USO through a variety of programs and donations. Operation DisneyHand Care Packages for the USO In celebration of Independence Day 2004, 120 "Operation DisneyHand" care packages were donated to USO centers worldwide. The care packages contained a large assortment of Disney products including videos, DVDs, books, games, magazine subscriptions and Mickey Mouse TV/DVD players to entertain children and families visiting the USO centers. This program will continue on an annual basis. Disney VoluntEARS Children's Playroom Refurbishment - the celebration began with the Disney VoluntEARS painting and enhancing a new children's Disney theme playroom at the Downtown San Diego USO Center. USO Family Parties - in Chicago and San Diego, Disney VoluntEARS hosted parties for USO families. To celebrate the newly decorated children's playroom in San Diego, Disney VoluntEARS from the Disneyland Resort hosted more than 100 military family members at a party filled with games, crafts and activities. Mickey and Minnie Mouse entertained guests and Belle read to the children. Disneyland Resort Ambassador Becky Murphy participated in the official ribbon cutting ceremony. Videos and DVDs Videos and DVDs are being made available to the troops through the USO centers around the world. America Supports You For more information on The Department Of Defense and it's new campaign to show support for our troops entitled "America Supports You," please visit http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/.