| If it wasn't a big enough perk to grow up next door | | | | improves the quality of life in the community. |
| to the Magic Kingdom, Orange County high school | | | | Strengthen their Understanding of Core Character |
| students are also being sought out by nonprofit | | | | Traits and Values |
| organizations in their area. As part of Disneyland's | | | | Trustworthiness - Respect - Fairness - Caring - |
| 50th anniversary celebrations, high school students | | | | Citizenship |
| from Orange County Schools have the chance to | | | | Benefits for Students |
| participate in community outreach projects with local | | | | In addition to the school credit, participation in the |
| nonprofits. | | | | competition also benefits students and their schools in |
| Show Your Character | | | | other key ways. Students will gain from an increased |
| The "Show Your Character" competition encourages | | | | awareness of the nonprofits operating in the |
| local nonprofits to design projects that get high | | | | community. In working with a nonprofit organization, |
| school students involved. Beginning in 2004 and | | | | the student will learn about how nonprofit groups |
| continuing through 2006, Orange County nonprofits | | | | help at risk members of the community and see for |
| submit project proposals designed to help local | | | | themselves how they and others can contribute to |
| teenagers give back to their community. If selected, | | | | building their community in a positive way in the |
| the nonprofits are paired with Orange County high | | | | future. Participation also qualifies the student to apply |
| school students and given the resources they | | | | for a Disneyland Resort Legacy Scholarship Award. |
| needed to complete a community service project in | | | | The Disneyland Resort Scholarship Program, called |
| their neighborhoods. | | | | Making Magic Through Community Service, plans to |
| Projects for the competition must meet the California | | | | grant $50,000 in scholarships, with a minimum |
| curriculum standards for Service Learning Projects. In | | | | scholarship of $5000 each. |
| this way, students earn academic credit while learning | | | | Benefits for Teachers and Schools |
| valuable skills from nonprofit groups. | | | | Teachers and schools can get in on the action too. In |
| A Service Learning Project must meet four basic | | | | assisting their students to participate in the |
| goals (provided by the Volunteer Center of Orange | | | | competition, teachers and schools meet the |
| County, ): | | | | standards in character education and have the |
| Meet a Real Community Need | | | | opportunity to build character and civic responsibility in |
| In partnership with your organization, students should | | | | their students. Teachers and students will have the |
| gain an understanding of how the needs of the | | | | advice of a Disney VoluntEAR Project Leader who is |
| community you serve are identified. After developing | | | | knowledgeable about their nonprofit organization |
| an understanding of these needs, students will | | | | partner as well as the character education curriculum |
| actively participate in a service-learning project | | | | education standards to be met. In addition, teachers |
| designed to effectively meet those needs. | | | | and schools will have the expert assistance of the |
| Gain an Understanding of the Connection Between | | | | Volunteer Center of Orange County, the California |
| School and Community | | | | State Regional Lead for Service Learning. There are |
| Students should develop an understanding of the | | | | financial benefits for teachers too, such as earning a |
| relationship between the school and the community | | | | Golden Performance Award worth $1000 to further |
| and the value of school-community partnerships. This | | | | improve the learning environment for their students. |
| will be gained through direct interactions with your | | | | Disney's community outreach programs for Orange |
| organization, staff and/or clients to develop and | | | | County high school students combine learning with |
| implement meaningful service activities that meet the | | | | public service and specifically address the character |
| needs of both the students and the community you | | | | education curriculum standards for the state of |
| serve. | | | | California. Students in the area have been given the |
| Develop a Sense of Civic Responsibility | | | | opportunity to learn from Walt Disney that, "the |
| Students should be able to demonstrate an | | | | greatest moments in life are not concerned with |
| understanding of civic responsibility through their | | | | selfish achievement but rather with the things we do |
| participation in this service-learning activity. The | | | | for the people in need. |
| project must meet a real community need and | | | | |