In a significant gesture honoring military families, The Walt Disney Company teamed up with Blue Star Families for their largest joint event yet at the Library of Congress. The initiative offered children free Disney and National Geographic books, alongside opportunities to meet beloved Disney characters, providing memorable moments for military kids and their families.
The event featured story time sessions led by Belle from "Beauty and the Beast" and appearances by iconic characters including Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Sofia the First, and Buzz and Woody from "Toy Story." Every child attending received a plush Mickey Mouse as a keepsake and was able to select several donated books to build their personal libraries.
Disney’s longstanding partnership with Blue Star Families has resulted in over 370,000 books donated since 2011. This year, the entertainment giant contributed $2.5 million to expand similar programs nationwide, reaffirming its century-long commitment to supporting service members and their families—a legacy tracing back to the company’s founders, who served during World War I.
Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO of Blue Star Families, highlighted the event’s impact, noting the hundreds of military children who collected books and enjoyed the festivities. Bill Bailey, Disney’s Senior Vice President of Government Relations, emphasized the company's dedication to creating meaningful experiences that unite military families through storytelling and shared moments.