Tsipi Ben-Haim, Executive Director, CITYarts (center) leading the ribbon cutting ceremony.

The collaboration of Disney and CITYarts brought together artist Richard Weinstein with more than 300 schoolchildren ages 7-17, Disney VoluntEARS, CITYarts staff members, and professional artists to design and create a mural that would pay tribute to New York City's many heroes. Weinstein worked with the children from the Henry Street Settlement, Grand Street Settlement, Phipps Plaza Community Center, Edwin Gould Services for Children, and the Beacon YMCA to conceptualize the mural and directed them while they were painting. Over the course of two months, weekly creative workshops were held to help the children learn about shapes, sizes, colors and portraiture.

The 210-foot mural that was the culmination of all their efforts is one of the largest in city. The mural covers a wall of Henry M. Jackson Park, located in Manhattan's Lower East Side.

VoluntEARS from across Disney's New York City business units were mobilized to participate in day to day production of the mural as well as organizing special events and activities to help enhance the children's experience. One of the highlights of the two month long project was Soap Star Day, a day in which the cast and crew of several ABC Daytime soaps showed up to lend a hand in the effort.

The project ended with a grand unveiling ceremony that took place on the afternoon of September 25, 2002 at the Henry M. Jackson Park on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Members of the NYC Police Department Marching Band were there along with children from the Henry Street Settlement, Grand Street Settlement, Edwin Gould Services for Children, and the Chinatown YMCA, along with Disney VoluntEARS.

Vince Loncto, Senior Vice President Finance, Information Technology and Global Operations, Disney Publishing Worldwide, speaking on behalf of Disney, with children from the community looking on.

Disney's partner on this project, CITYarts, was founded in 1968 and is dedicated to creating public art of the highest caliber in communities where access to and participation in the arts are limited. By establishing partnerships among youth, families, local businesses, schools and city officials to create meaningful public artworks, CITYarts fosters cultural and economic growth and revitalization in under-served urban areas of New York, while addressing important, civic, social and educational issues. CITYarts brings professional artists together with the youth of these neighborhoods to design and create murals, mosaics, sculptures and other forms of art to transform desolate and forgotten walls into vibrant public spaces. More information can be found at www.cityarts.org.