Disney believes that when adults and children read together, magic happens. To support literacy in local schools, in 1995 the company established Disney Reading Together, a program that partners Disney VoluntEARS with second grade students who are reading below grade level. Through focused one-on-one reading, Disney Readers spend quality time each week tutoring their students on basic reading fundamentals.

Disney partners with six elementary schools in the greater Los Angeles area. Disney Readers are given the essential training required to help students become life long readers and, through this effort, inspire hundreds of students to achieve their reading goals.

Linda Noel has been a Disney Reader for eight years and shares why the Reading Together program is one of her favorites. “I believe that reading is the most important thing a student learns in school, as reading affects every aspect of learning and living. Knowing that I am helping a challenged student obtain this critical skill makes me feel like I’ve made a difference in their future, and impacted the future of our community as well. It’s so rewarding to see the child’s confidence and reading ability improve by the end of the school year, it feels like a real achievement for both of us.”

Each year Disney supports the six partnership schools with book donations, reading supplies for each Disney Reader and culminates the school year with a fun, interactive, assembly featuring Belle from “Beauty and the Beast”.

To learn more about Disney community outreach programs, please visit out website at www.DisneyHand.com.