Making the Ordinary Extraordinary: Walt Disney

(3BL Media/Justmeans) - This November has been the month where organisations have made dreams come true for children. One of the best stories by far this year has been about the ‘Batkid’ when San Francisco rallied for 'Batkid' Miles Scott, a leukaemia survivor who is now in remission.  Scott was able to pretend that he was Batman for the day, thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Miles, who is five years old, participated in events across the city including fighting mock crimes and receiving an honour from the mayor.

Make-A-Wish Foundation received pledges from more than 10,000 people to lend a hand. According to local television, the young boy thought he was just on his way to get a Batman costume so he could dress like his favourite superhero, but then he heard a broadcast from San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr appealing for help from ‘Batkid’! The young superhero saved a damsel in distress, who was tied to cable car tracks along a major street. A San Francisco Chronicle live blog of the day's events showed hundreds of people cheering Miles on during the rescue mission.

There’s also another great, out-of-this-world tale to tell; the main characters of this story are Walt Disney and Skype. For nearly 30 years, the Walt Disney Company has dedicated time and talent to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), bringing happiness, hope and laughter to children and families when they need it most. Disney supports the hospital through a variety of initiatives, from Disney characters making hospital rounds a little brighter to Disney VoluntEARS who have given their time and raised money for the hospital.

So this November, the Walt Disney Company continued its tradition by teaming up with Skype to connect the stars of Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World with the young patients at CHLA. These children, from their hospital beds, were able to attend the U.S. premiere of the film with a little magic and the help of an oversized monitor that virtually whisked them to the glitz and glamour of the red carpet. Thor: The Dark World’s cast of stars—Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston and Sir Anthony Hopkins—all chatted directly with the patients via Skype as they made their way down the red carpet, answering questions and trading stories with these special guests.

Click here to continue reading and comment on Justmeans

Sangeeta Haindl is a staff writer for Justmeans on Social Enterprise. When not writing for Justmeans, Sangeeta wears her other hat as a PR professional. Over the years, she has worked with high-profile organizations within the public, not-for-profit and corporate sectors; and won awards from her industry. She now runs her own UK consultancy: Serendipity PR & Media.