Walt Disney Company Donates $1 Million To Those Affected By The Pulse Nightclub Shooting

Early on Sunday morning, chaos ensued in the Pulse nightclub as a gunman tore through the building with weapons and ended up killing 49 people and wounding 53 others. Two days later, the world is still trying to find a way to cope with this situation as people are helping in any way they possibly can. Numerous contributions are pouring in, and a big one just arrived from the Walt Disney Company as they have donated $1 million to those affected by the horrific tragedy.

Vigils have been held around the world. Donations of money and contributions of supplies have been hand-delivered or shipped to Orlando. Volunteers are arriving by the truckload to give blood or just offer their help in any way they possibly can.

The Disney Parks Blog announced on Tuesday morning that the Walt Disney Company donated a $1 million cash commitment to the OneOrlando fund. The fund was set up by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, and it is designed to help those affected by the events in Orlando from this weekend.

Bob Chapek, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, let the world know that they are with them and all have been affected by this horrific event.

“We are heartbroken by this tragedy and hope our commitment will help those in the community affected by this senseless act. With 74,000 Cast Members who call Orlando home, we mourn the loss of the victims and offer our condolences to their families, friends and loved ones.”

On top of this $1 million donation from the Walt Disney Company, they will also be matching eligible donations dollar for dollar from Disney employees. That is going to be done through the Disney Employee Matching Gifts: A Program of The Walt Disney Company Foundation, and it could end up bringing in so much more money for those affected.

Adding even more to the effort to help is a partnership by the City of Orlando and the Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association. With their help, the Walt Disney World Resort is going to provide complimentary accommodations to the victims’ friends and families who will be coming to Orlando.

Disney has been working with other Central Florida agencies to help in any way they possibly can. OneBlood is just one of those agencies and they have set up five designated locations across resort property for Disney cast members and employees who are wishing to donate blood.

As reported by My News 13, Disney is just one of many companies affected by this tragedy, but they did lose one of their own. Thirty-one-year-old Jerald Arthur Wright was among one of those killed in the Pulse nightclub on Sunday morning.

Walt Disney World President George Kalogridis delivered a message of sorrow for the loss of Jerry and others.

“We mourn the loss of one of our own Cast Members, Jerry Wright, as well as others within our extended Disney family.”

As the days and weeks pass by, this tragedy will not be forgotten and families are going to continue suffering. Donations and help will be needed for a long time as they try to cope and deal with all that has transpired in the last couple of days.

The Walt Disney Company is doing their part to help the friends, families, and victims of those affected by the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando on Sunday morning. While $1 million is a huge amount of money, there is always more that is going to be needed by the hundreds and thousands who have been dealt this blow. Every little bit helps and it certainly seems as if the donations, volunteer work, and contributions are going to keep coming forth.

[Photo by Danny Cox]