Community| Disneyland Resort Scholarship Program

The Disneyland® Resort Scholarship Program Celebrating Community Service, will award $50,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors. 

Graduating seniors in the Class of 2012 may be eligible for a scholarship through the Disneyland® Resort Scholarship Program. This program reinforces the legacy of the Disneyland® Resort and it’s commitment to community support while enhancing and providing opportunities for educational advancement.  Scholarships will be awarded to students who demonstrate excellence in volunteerism, exceptional leadership within their communities and academic excellence.

This is a tremendous opportunity for Orange County students to be recognized for their efforts toward improving the lives of children and families in need and for going above and beyond the California State Standards for character education and service learning.

By granting scholarships to students who strive to improve our community, the Disneyland® Resort aims to make the dream of attending college or professional trade school a reality.

This year, Disneyland® Resort will award ten scholarships with a value of $5,000 each to selected seniors in the Class of 2012.  Students must fulfill the following criteria:

• Be a resident of Orange County, California
• Be a graduating high school senior during the 2011-2012 academic year
• Currently be attending an Orange County public, private or charter high school
• Be pursuing secondary education
• Volunteered a minimum of 100 hours of local community service between January 1, 2011 – December 31, 2011 through one or more charitable nonprofit organizations*
• Have a minimum 3.0 weighted GPA from 9^th Grade to first semester of 12^th Grade (most recent transcript required)
• Provide verification from the predominant charitable nonprofit organization with which you volunteer
• Has initiated a significant service project in their hometown or school community that executes programs in one of the following categories**:
• Creativity
• Compassion and Well-Being
• Conservation

As you work with youth volunteers, please share with them this incredible opportunity and encourage them to apply for a Disneyland® Resort Scholarship at www.disneyland.com/publicaffairs > Education Programs > Youth Scholarship.

The application deadline is January 31, 2012.

For additional information, visit www.disneyland.com/publicaffairs or contact Disneyland® Resort Community Relations at 714-781-0856.

*In the United States – a non-profit organization that maintains current 501(c)(3) status under U.S. Federal Tax Code. Outside of the United States – an organization must be a registered charity/Non Governmental Organization (NGO). Secular (non-faith based) outreach activities with a church or religious group benefiting the greater community e.g., food kitchen, homeless shelter, home-building for the poor, or other program whose primary purpose is non-faith based community outreach.

** Please note, the nonprofit* organization through which you initiated this service project will be the organization that you should use to register your application. In addition, this nonprofit organization will be contacted to verify your application information and should adhere to The Walt Disney Company Charitable Giving Guidelines listed below.

All organizations must adhere to the following eligibility guidelines –

• A U.S. nonprofit charitable corporation that has been granted tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (“Code”), or, if a K-12 public school or school district, under Section 501(c)(3) or Section 170(c)(1) of the Code
• Electronically verifiable in the IRS Business Master File or National Center for Education Statistics database
• U.S. Patriot Act compliant

Ineligible Organizations –

• Organizations that discriminate in the provision of services unlawfully or in a manner inconsistent with Disney’s policies on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, marital status, mental or physical ability, or sexual orientation
• Organizations that operate or support activities that are counter to the policies of The Walt Disney Company
• Organizations that are actively engaged in highly controversial issues or use controversial tactics to advocate their position. A controversial issue is a serious matter that has an impact on society or its institutions where different segments of the community have strong opposing positions. A controversial tactic is an unlawful activity, or an extreme action that intentionally damages or threatens people or property.
• Labor unions or trade associations
• Fraternal or political organizations
• The Walt Disney Company reserves the right (in its sole discretion) to change, suspend, revoke or terminate its charitable giving at any time, without advance notice, and to make the final determination of the eligibility of all organizations.