Home
Our Kids
Our Programs
Our Kids: Five Disney GOALS kids

Les, age 17. Time in GOALS: two years.

Though he never even met his mother until he was 12 years old, Les escaped the potential dangers of his neighborhood, thanks in part to GOALS. He's currently applying to a junior college, with help from Disney GOALS. Les says, "GOALS has helped me a lot in school. I wanted to be a better hockey player, so I thought, 'Why can't I be better at everything else?' I just started applying myself more, doing more homework, getting my reports in on time, doing more research on them, asking more questions...everybody noticed the turnaround.

"I was just doing enough to get by, but when DG came around and said, 'You can get extra stuff for doing extra work,' I started thinking, 'What else can you get in life for doing extra work?'

"The more you do, the more recognized you'll be in GOALS. You don't have to be a good hockey player, but if you help others, that's where you'll stand out.

"Even if [our parents] don't come to watch us play, we still have [our trainers] Mike and Dave to tell us how good we're doing. It's like having four parents."


Edward, age 12. Time in GOALS: a year and a half

"I was hanging around outside before GOALS. They help us with our homework. They have tutoring. This keeps me inside, and it keeps me from getting into trouble."


Patty, age 11. Time in GOALS: one year.

"I like GOALS because it mixes genders. It doesn't matter if you're a boy or a girl -- they teach you the same. It's great how they give you equal opportunity. It's a positive thing in my life. I get to have new adventures and meet new people, like [Mighty] Ducks players. I've had more friends in GOALS because it involves a lot of communication and friendship. My grades have gone up, too."


Robert, age 11. Time in GOALS: one year.

"GOALS is good because it keeps us out of gangs, trouble...almost everything!"


Teresa, age 16. Time in GOALS: one year.

"I get to meet new people, and I have best friends here. They train you to be a better player mentally and physically. GOALS means education and athletics to me. It helps a lot in school and with problems you might have."

"I have asthma, and GOALS helps me a lot because I do more exercise now. I've lost about 40 pounds already. My health is better, and it makes me concentrate. If I have problems at home, this entertains me, and I forget all about the bad problems."


These are just a few of the at-risk kids whom Disney GOALS is helping -- right now!

Yet, for all the good it gives, GOALS takes a lot, too. Skates, sticks, pads, and other hockey equipment aren't free. For instance, here are some examples of the fixed costs GOALS faces:

    $25.00 -- A new hockey bag
    $50.00 -- A pair of skates
    $100.00 -- A week of tutoring services
    $500.00 -- Amount required to outfit a GOALS child in hockey gear
    $1,500.00 -- Cost of sponsoring a GOALS child all year.

GOALS also provides books, teachers, teaching materials, field trips, vehicles, and many other components of the program, all of which cost money.