Innovative Disney's Dreamers Academy Launched to Inspire High School Students from Across America

Innovative Disney's Dreamers Academy Launched to Inspire High School Students from Across America

Radio Personality Steve Harvey to Reach Dreamers For Program at Walt Disney World Resort in January

LAS VEGAS, Aug. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Disney's Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey, an enrichment event with a special appeal for African American high- schoolers, was announced jointly today by Disney and by national radio personality Steve Harvey. It invites inspired teenagers to pack their bags -- and their dreams -- for Walt Disney World Resort in 2008.

The announcement came at the 32nd National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Convention and Career Fair here.

One hundred teens from across the United States with the potential for greatness and the courage to dream will be tapped for the Dreamers Academy weekend Jan. 17-20, 2008, during the heart of Disney's "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration.

"This is about taking youth with potential and opening doors for them -- helping them to realize their dreams," said Xiomara Wiley, vice president of multicultural marketing, Disney Parks and Resorts. "And what a place to do it! At 40 square miles, Walt Disney World is the world's largest creative classroom designed to inspire people. These young people will have unprecedented access to the magic behind the magic."

Harvey said Disney's Dreamers Academy "is very important to me because it gets to the heart of what my foundation is all about. It's about the education of our young people who are oftentimes slighted and don't have the chance to be exposed to a variety of job skills and job sets and meet with people in the fields they're interested in. We want to give our young achievers the tools to become overachievers -- to take their dreams stratospheric."

Sessions will also include interactive workshops, motivational talks with sports and entertainment celebrities, and discussions led by Disney cast members and executives sharing their blueprint for success.

Workshop topics will feature everything from business to architecture/engineering, animation to set design, show production to culinary arts, to learning the business behind sports.

There also will be free time to enjoy the Walt Disney World theme parks and recreation.

High school students from around the country can be nominated to participate. The lucky participants will be selected from among young dreamers nominated by their parents, legal guardians, their school, church, social organization, youth program -- or even themselves.

A select panel of judges including Steve Harvey, key African American community leaders and Disney representatives will choose the 100 finalists.

"We believe this program will have special appeal for African American high schoolers, and working with Steve Harvey gives us a great opportunity to get this message to them," adds Wiley.

Participants in the program must be enrolled in high school. Disney's Dreamers Academy is designed for students who show promise -- but may need a little motivation -- and share one common trait: the power to dream.

Nomination forms and more details about Disney's Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey can be found on www.steveharvey.com/disneysdreamersacademy.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Walt Disney World

CONTACT: Walt Disney World Public Relations, +1-407-566-6397

Web site: http://www.steveharvey.com/disneysdreamersacademy
http://www.wdwnews.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Not For Publication: For more information about Walt Disney World Resort, visit our news media-exclusive Web site, www.wdwnews.com (USER NAME: disney; PASSWORD: magic).

---

Profile: International Entertainment