Disney Worldwide Outreach Partners with CLC - Child Life Council

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Genevieve Thomas
Manager of Communications
Phone: 301-881-7090, ext. 12
Email: gthomas@childlife.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Child Life Council Partners with Disney Worldwide Outreach
Rockville, MD – May 7, 2007 – In a new partnership with Child Life Council (CLC), The Walt
Disney Company brightened the lives of children in pediatric facilities nationwide through a
generous multi-box care package donation from DisneyShopping.com. This effort is in line with
Disney’s already existing international care packages program reaching children and families
around the world.
Through this recent alliance with CLC, Disney’s annual donations to children’s hospitals and
pediatric wings reached more children in need than ever. The donated care packages including
such desired items as Disney and Baby Einstein® DVDs, games, toys, pajamas, blankets and
much more, were delivered in April 2007 to more than 450 child life programs and are sure to
bring smiles and comfort to the children and families served.
According to Jeff Hoffman, Vice President of Disney Worldwide Outreach, “We are very
appreciative of the wonderful work that child life specialists do every day to make a difference in
children’s lives. From the first day of our company, when Walt Disney and his colleagues visited
with children at the Orthopaedic Hospital in Los Angeles, we have been committed to helping
children and families during challenging times and we are delighted to partner with Child Life
Council to put this donation in the hands of the children who need it most.”
There are many who may be unfamiliar with the term “child life specialist,” but for thousands
of families that benefit from child life services every year, the impact of the profession is
tremendous and unforgettable.
Child life specialists are employed mostly by children’s hospitals and they work to ease the
anxiety experienced by children and families undergoing challenging healthcare experiences.

Disney Partners with CLC – Page 2
They prepare children for medical procedures with developmentally-appropriate explanations, by
practicing coping skills, and by engaging children in play activities with therapeutic and
diversionary objectives. As a part of their mission to take the fear and anxiety out of a hospital
experience, child life specialists are typically responsible for the administration of playrooms and
the distribution of toys and other comfort items. Child life programs range in size, from oneperson
programs, to departments with 25 child life specialists or more.
About Child Life Council
Child Life Council, Inc. is the leading membership association serving child life professionals as
they empower children and families to master challenging life events. CLC was established in
1982 to address the professional, programmatic and educational needs of child life practitioners.
The membership is composed of more than 3,000 child life personnel, hospital school teachers,
patient activity specialists, therapeutic recreation specialists, and others in related fields. To
learn more about Child Life Council and the child life profession, please visit our Web site at
www.childlife.org.
About Disney Worldwide Outreach
Disney brightens the lives of children in need around the world through global outreach
programs, local community initiatives and the Disney VoluntEARS program. Last year, Disney
donated more than $170 million in cash and in-kind support to various charities around the
world. Disney VoluntEARS contributed more than 485,000 hours of service and the company
drew upon its unique magic to make wishes come true for children and families. The Disney
VoluntEARS program provides opportunities for Disney employees to contribute their time and
expertise towards making a positive impact in the communities they serve while furthering the
traditions and ideals of The Walt Disney Company. For more information on Disney’s outreach
efforts, please visit www.disneyhand.com
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