CORRECTING and REPLACING Disney and ABC Invite Families to Read Together During Fifth Annual “Magic of Storytelling” Campaign and Second Annual Disney Reads Day
Disney to Donate up to One Million Books in 2017 through First
Book; More than 57 Million Books Distributed To Date
Emma Watson to Narrate “Magic of Storytelling” PSA Presented
Across Disney|ABC Television Group’s Multiple Platforms
GLENDALE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#bookstokids–In release dated January 4, 2017, the second paragraph of the
boilerplate for Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media has been
updated.
The corrected release reads:
DISNEY AND ABC INVITE FAMILIES TO READ TOGETHER DURING FIFTH ANNUAL
“MAGIC OF STORYTELLING” CAMPAIGN AND SECOND ANNUAL DISNEY READS DAY
Disney to Donate up to One Million Books in 2017 through First
Book; More than 57 Million Books Distributed To Date
Emma Watson to Narrate “Magic of Storytelling” PSA Presented
Across Disney|ABC Television Group’s Multiple Platforms
Today, Disney and ABC announced it will donate up to one million books
to First Book, a nonprofit that provides new books to educators and
organizations serving children from low-income families, during its
fifth annual Magic of Storytelling campaign from now through March 31.
The Magic of Storytelling campaign aims to inspire families’
imaginations, cultivate a lifelong love of reading in kids, and bring
books to underserved communities across the country. Over the past 16
years, Disney has donated 57 million books to First Book. Together with
First Book, Disney Publishing Worldwide and Disney|ABC Television Group
are committed to placing up to one million more books in the hands of
children in need across the country.
“We are so proud to have donated more than 57 million books through our
long-standing collaboration with Disney,” said Kyle Zimmer, president
and CEO of First Book. “Each year, the excitement around the Magic of
Storytelling campaign grows, inspiring millions of individuals to help
us bring much-needed new books to children in need.”
As part of the Magic of Storytelling campaign, families are encouraged
to put everything else down, pick up a book, and read independently or
together during the second annual nationwide Disney Reads Day on
February 4. Families can do this at home by taking time to read their
favorite books together, or visit a participating Disney Store, Barnes &
Noble, or other retail location for story-time, themed activities, and
giveaways.
From now through March 31, Disney book donations (up to a total of one
million donations) can be activated through various ways:
-
One for One Book Donation: Disney will donate one book to First
Book for every eligible Disney book purchased at a Disney Store or
participating retailer during that store’s participation window. (A
list of eligible Disney books and participating retailers are
available at magicofstorytelling.com.) -
Share a Shelfie: Disney will also give one book for every
“shelfie” — a selfie photo with a favorite book or in front of a
bookshelf — shared on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag
#MagicOfStorytelling. -
Disney Story Central: Users of Disney’s
digital reading platform can download digital books designed for
parents and children to read together. Disney will donate one book to
First Book for every book read in the app. -
Magic of Storytelling Sweepstakes: Consumers can enter to win a
library of 400 Disney books for their school and a personal library
for their home in the Magic of Storytelling Sweepstakes. For every
sweepstakes entry, Disney will donate one book to First Book. To enter
the sweepstakes and for more rules and information, visit magicofstorytelling.com. -
In-Store Events: Celebrate Disney Reads Day on February 4 at
Disney Store, Barnes & Noble, and participating retailer locations
nationwide. Families and fans can enjoy free family-friendly events
like story time, coloring and activity sheets, and themed “shelfie”
stations. A full list of participating Disney Store and retailer
locations is available at magicofstorytelling.com.
“For more than 80 years, Disney books have brought children and parents
together, sparking imaginations and inspiring dreams,” said Andrew
Sugerman, executive vice president, content and media, Disney Consumer
Products and Interactive Media. “We are thrilled to be part of a program
that encourages a love of reading and makes these stories available to
as many people as possible. We’re honored to continue our work with
First Book to bring the Magic of Storytelling to kids in need around the
country.”
Kevin Brockman, Executive Vice President, Global Communications,
Disney|ABC Television Group added, “Storytelling and imagination are
central to the entertainment we deliver to our viewers every day. We’re
thrilled to celebrate our 16 year association with First Book through
this campaign and excited to mobilize our multiple platforms to inspire
kids and families to expand their imaginations and celebrate the
importance of reading and storytelling.”
The Magic of Storytelling campaign comes to life across Disney|ABC’s
extensive network of broadcast and digital platforms including MagicOfStorytelling.com,
a website with activities and resources to encourage reading and shared
reading experiences. Fans can also engage with Magic of Storytelling
content on Disney’s network of social medial channels and digital
publishing brands like Oh My Disney, Disney Style, Disney Family and
Babble.
The campaign launches with a PSA voiced by Emma Watson, star of The Walt
Disney Studios upcoming film “Beauty and the Beast,” coming to theaters
on March 17. In the PSA, Watson highlights the impact of books on
children. Click
here to view the PSA.
Inspired by the film’s iconic themes of reading, discovery and
imagination, the PSA will be shared with audiences across Disney
including ABC affiliate stations, ABC Television Network, Freeform,
Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior, Disney Store, Disney Cruise
Line and Disney Resorts’ TVs, the ABC app, and Disney’s digital network
of publishing brands including Oh My Disney and Babble. Additionally,
each local ABC-owned station will donate 5,000 books to their local
communities through schools and organizations in their respective
markets.
Additionally, for the first time, The Walt Disney Company is extending
the Magic of Storytelling campaign initiative to the educator community
through focused outreach to schools and libraries, providing meaningful
resources to facilitate in-class and in-home shared reading experiences.
Resources include lesson plans, reading activities, and more.
To find a participating retailer or learn more about Magic of
Storytelling and Disney Reads Day, visit magicofstorytelling.com.
First Book
First Book is a nonprofit social enterprise that has distributed more
than 135 million books and educational resources to programs and schools
serving children from low-income families through the United States and
Canada. By making new, high-quality books available on an ongoing basis,
First Book is transforming the lives of children in need and elevating
the quality of education. For more information, visit firstbook.org
or follow the latest news on Facebook and Twitter.
About Disney Consumer Products and Interactive
Media
Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media (DCPI) is the business
segment of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) that brings our Company’s
stories and characters to life through innovative and engaging physical
products and digital experiences across more than 100 categories, from
toys and t-shirts, to apps, books and console games. DCPI comprises two
main lines of business: Disney Consumer Products (DCP), and Disney
Interactive (DI). The combined segment is home to world class teams of
app and game developers, licensing and retail experts, a leading retail
business (Disney Store), artists and storytellers, and technologists who
inspire imaginations around the world.
Disney Publishing Worldwide (DPW) is the world’s largest publisher of
children’s books and magazines, igniting imagination through
storytelling. DPW creates and publishes books and magazines both
vertically in-house and through an extensive worldwide licensing
structure. Headquartered in Glendale, California, within the Disney
Consumer Products and Interactive Media business segment, DPW publishes
books, magazines and digital products in 85 countries in 75 languages.
For more information, visit disneypublishingworldwide.com.
About the Disney|ABC Television Group
Disney|ABC Television Group is comprised of The Walt Disney Company’s
global entertainment and news television properties, owned television
stations group, and radio business. This includes ABC Studios, a global
leader in the development, production and distribution of entertainment
content across broadcast, cable and on-demand platforms; the ABC Owned
Television Stations Group; and the ABC Television Network, which
provides entertainment and news programming to viewers via more than 200
affiliated stations across the U.S. It also includes Disney Channels
Worldwide, a portfolio of 116 kid-driven, family-inclusive entertainment
channels, including Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior, Disney
Cinemagic, Hungama, and Radio Disney brands, as well as cable network
Freeform, which targets Millennials. Disney|ABC Home Entertainment and
Television Distribution and Disney Media Distribution round out the
portfolio. Disney|ABC Television Group also has equity interests in A+E
Networks and Hulu.
Contacts
Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media
Bahareh Ramin,
818-544-0198
Bahareh.Ramin@disney.com
or
Disney
Consumer Products and Interactive Media
Scott Slesinger,
818-544-0395
Scott.Slesinger@disney.com
or
Disney|ABC
Television Group
Jennifer Minezaki, 818-569-5929
Jennifer.Minezaki@disney.com
