Disney program meets goal of 1 million volunteers

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A program launched in January by the Walt Disney Co. has given out 1 million free park passes to people who volunteer their time to nonprofit groups.

The ‘Give A Day, Get A Disney Day’ program hit its goal of 1 million volunteers Tuesday, only 10 weeks after it was launched.

Under the program, people across the country who volunteers for a day of work with the HandsOn Network get a free pass to any Walt Disney park, including Disneyland and California Adventure. The jobs included tutoring underprivileged children, working at a thrift store and serving food at homeless shelters.

The program is now closed but people who have completed the volunteer work or have signed up before Tuesday to volunteer can still get the free pass and use it before Dec. 15.

‘By any measure, the ‘Give A Day, Get A Disney Day’ program exceeded our expectations,” Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, said in a statement “These 1 million volunteers touched their communities with their hearts and hands.’

Disney officials say the company continues to support charitable volunteer efforts but does not have immediate plans for another program that awards free passes.

-- Hugo Martin