Disney brightens the lives of children and families through national partnerships with five charities: Make-A-Wish Foundation, Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation, Toys for Tots, First Book and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Make-A-Wish Foundation® — The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. The Make-A-Wish Foundation and Disney began a relationship in 1980, when Disney helped the newly formed charity grant its first wish. Today, a Disney theme park visit remains the Foundation's most requested wish for children with life-threatening medical conditions. Disney recently celebrated the 50,000th Disney theme park wish granted for Christian Marlowe, a 5-year-old from Coos Bay, Ore. In fact, Disney fulfills more than 5,000 wishes for the Make-A-Wish Foundation each year. Disney wishes fulfilled have also included going on a Disney cruise, visiting the set of a film or television production, spending time with animators and meeting Disney personalities like Raven-Symoné. Click here for more news on Disney and Make-A-Wish.

Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation — The Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation's mission is to transform the lives of seriously ill children and their families through imaginative programs that educate, uplift their spirits, foster a sense of community and help alleviate the pain and fear of prolonged illness. Disney, in cooperation with Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation, makes an annual donation of a "Compassion Kit" to every children's hospital or pediatric wing in the country with 25 or more beds. Each of the Compassion Kits feature Mickey Mouse plush for every child in the hospital, as well as books, movies, video games, music and board games. Each kit has enough merchandise to fully stock a hospital room, waiting room, children's play room or other appropriate venue in order to brighten a child's hospital stay.

The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation — A sponsor of Toys for Tots since its inception in 1947, Disney has a long history with the organization. In 1948, Walt Disney and his animators personally designed the original Toys for Tots train logo that is still used today. Disney also designed the first poster created for Toys for Tots which featured Santa Claus with a bag full of toys. Working with Toys for Tots, Disney is able to help ensure that each underserved child in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico receives a toy during the holiday season.

First Book — Reading Together is a Disney initiative aimed at helping parents and caregivers learn more about reading to children in ways that are both fun and engaging. Disney's partner in this effort is First Book, a national nonprofit organization with a single mission: to give children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books. As part of its commitment to First Book, Disney has already donated more than 8 million books to the First Book National Book Bank to be distributed to children in need.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America — Disney's relationship with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) has spanned more than 50 years, and Disney is proud to be the inaugural presenting sponsor of the BGCA's Centennial Celebration in 2006. Boys & Girls Clubs of America comprises a national network of some 3,700 neighborhood-based facilities annually serving more than 4.4 million young people, primarily from disadvantaged circumstances. Known as "The Positive Place for Kids," Clubs provide guidance-oriented programs on a daily basis for children 6 - 18 years old, conducted by a full-time professional staff. Key programs emphasize character and leadership development, educational enhancement, career preparation, health and life skills, the arts, and sports, fitness and recreation. Click here for more news on Disney and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.