Office of the Secretary |
Contact: Kathryn
Harrington
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For Immediate Release: Sept. 21, 2004 |
202-208-6502
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Secretarty
Norton Announces the Walt Disney Co is Recipient of 2004 National Take
Pride in America® Outstanding Charter Partner Award
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WASHINGTON - Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton today announced The Walt Disney Co. is the recipient of the 2004 National Take Pride in America Outstanding Charter Partner award at a ceremony held in Washington, D.C. Kym Murphy, senior vice president of Environmental Policy, and Karen Kawanami, manager of Disney Worldwide Outreach, accepted the award from Secretary Norton. Presented annually, Take Pride in America's national awards recognize outstanding volunteer projects and efforts in a variety of categories. The outstanding charter partner award is presented each year to the organization whose support of Take Pride in America far exceeds expectations. Disney is receiving the award for the participation of Disney VoluntEARS who worked on projects important to Take Pride in America's mission, as well as for programming support and other contributions. "Take Pride in America is a thriving reality because of the dedication and enthusiasm of supporters, like Disney," Norton said. "For cooperative conservation to really work, successful collaboration between public, private, federal, state and local groups is essential." Disney has been a leader in volunteerism more than two decades. In 2003 alone, Disney VoluntEARS participated in more than 1,050 projects and programs and contributed in excess of 400,000 community service hours at sites around the world. "It is a distinct honor to receive this distinguished award from Take Pride in America," Kawanami said. "DisneyHand believes in Take Pride in America's mission and supports them wholeheartedly - it means a great deal to have them recognize Disney as a company that goes above and beyond in helping to support awareness and public space for everyone to enjoy." Disney also has a long and distinguished commitment to environmental stewardship dating back to Walt Disney's True-Life Adventures, a series of 13 nature films between 1948 and 1960 that won eight Academy Awards. "Walt Disney would have been one of the first to embrace a program such as Take Pride in America. That fact alone makes this award extremely satisfying and appreciated throughout our company," Murphy said. Over the past year, DisneyHand has supported Take Pride in America through:
Over the past year, Disney Environmental Policy has supported Take Pride in America through:
"Since Take Pride in America's inception, Disney's support has been unwavering," said Marti Allbright, executive director of Take Pride in America. "When the Take Pride team calls our friends at Disney, they always get the job done while going the extra mile." About DisneyHand About Disney Environmental
Policy
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