Disney and ABC Raise Awareness of the Importance of Reading with Nonprofit First Book Through ‘Magic of Storytelling’ Campaign

Disney Donates its 50 Millionth Book and Launches First ‘Disney
Reads Day’

Fans and Families Invited to Celebrate Storytelling with Special
Events and Online Challenges

GLENDALE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today, Disney announced that it will donate its 50 millionth book to
First Book, a nonprofit that provides new books to educators and
organizations serving children from low-income families. To celebrate
this milestone, Disney and ABC are inviting consumers to join the fourth
annual Magic of Storytelling campaign through a number of activities
between now and March 31, 2016, including the first annual Disney Reads
Day on February 6, 2016.

The Magic of Storytelling campaign is a collaboration between Disney
Publishing Worldwide and Disney|ABC Television Group to help First Book
put brand new books into the hands of children in communities
nationwide. The campaign features a public service announcement, special
events, an extensive media campaign, social media activations and a
50-State online challenge.

The inaugural Disney Reads Day on February 6 will kick off four weeks of
events and special promotions at participating retailers and other
organizations, including story time events at Disney Store’s 180 U.S.
locations, to raise awareness of the importance of reading.

“The Magic of Storytelling campaign celebrates all the ways that a love
for reading benefits a child’s life. We’re tremendously grateful to have
a partner in Disney that shares these same beliefs,” said Kyle Zimmer,
president and CEO of First Book. “This year is especially thrilling as
Disney donates its 50 millionth book through First Book. We hope
communities nationwide join us in our efforts to raise awareness of the
importance of reading.”

The Magic of Storytelling campaign will feature a public service
announcement (PSA) voiced by Steven Spielberg, Director of The Walt
Disney Studios upcoming film adaptation of “The BFG,” based on the
beloved book by Roald Dahl, coming to theaters on July 1, 2016. Created
to celebrate storytelling and underscore the importance of reading, the
PSA will be shared with audiences across Disney including ABC affiliate
stations, ABC Network, ABC Family (soon to be renamed Freeform on
January 12, 2016), Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior, Disney
Store, Disney Cruise Line and Disney Resorts’ TVs, the ABC Watch app,
and more. Additionally, each local ABC-owned station will donate 5,000
books to their local communities through schools and organizations in
their respective markets.

“Storytelling is at the heart of everything we do,” said Leslie Ferraro,
co-chair, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media and president,
Disney Consumer Products. “Great stories change lives, unleash
imaginations and foster creativity. We are incredibly proud of our
ongoing, long-standing partnership with First Book and the work they
have done to bring books to kids in need, and we look forward to sharing
the Magic of Storytelling and Disney Reads Day with families and fans.”

Consumers are encouraged to participate and share the magic of
storytelling through a number of ways:

  • In-Store Events: Consumers are invited to celebrate Disney
    Reads Day at participating retailers and Disney Store locations, which
    will feature family-friendly events and activities including story
    time. A full list of all Disney Store locations and participating
    retailers is available at firstbook.org/BeInspired.
  • Book Donation: For each eligible book consumers purchase at a
    Disney Store or other participating locations on February 6, 2016, a
    book will be donated to an organization in the region where the
    purchase was made, up to 250,000 books. A full list of all Disney
    Store locations and participating retailers is available at firstbook.org/BeInspired.
  • Social Media: Consumers can also participate by posting a
    “shelfie” – a selfie with a favorite book or in front of a bookshelf.
    For each shelfie posted to Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag
    #MagicOfStorytelling, First Book will direct a book donated by Disney
    to an organization in need, up to 500,000 books.
  • Digital Activation: Through March 31, 2016, consumers can visit FirstBook.org/BeInspired
    to vote online to win a donation of books for kids in need in their
    state.

To learn more about the Magic of Storytelling campaign and Disney Reads
Day, please visit Firstbook.org/BeInspired.

First Book

First Book is a nonprofit social enterprise that has distributed more
than 135 million books and educational resources to programs and schools
serving children from low-income families through the United States and
Canada. By making new, high-quality books available on an ongoing basis,
First Book is transforming the lives of children in need and elevating
the quality of education. For more information, visit firstbook.org
or follow the latest news on Facebook and Twitter.

About Disney Publishing Worldwide

Disney Publishing Worldwide (DPW) is the world’s largest publisher of
children’s books, magazines, and apps, igniting imagination through
storytelling in ever-inventive ways. DPW creates and publishes books and
magazines both vertically in-house and through an extensive worldwide
licensing structure. As a leader in digital products, DPW creates
best-selling eBook titles and best-in-class original apps. DPW is also
committed to the educational development of children around the world
through Disney Learning, which includes Disney Imagicademy,
as well as Disney English and other Disney-themed learning products.
Headquartered in Glendale, California, DPW publishes books, magazines
and digital products in 85 countries in 75 languages. For more
information, visit www.disneypublishing.com.

Disney/ABC Television Group

The Disney/ABC Television Group is composed of The Walt Disney Company’s
(NYSE:DIS) global entertainment and news television properties, cable
networks, owned television stations, and radio stations. This includes
ABC Entertainment Group, ABC News, ABC Owned Television Stations, Disney
Channels Worldwide, and ABC Family (soon to be renamed Freeform on
January 12, 2016), as well as Disney/ABC Domestic Television and Disney
Media Distribution.

Contacts

Media:
Disney Publishing Worldwide
Heather Hust Rivera,
818-544-1970
Heather.Hust.Rivera@disney.com
or
Amelia
Lukiman, 818-319-6721
Amelia.Lukiman@disney.com
or
Disney|ABC
Television Group
Jennifer Minezaki, 818-569-5929
Jennifer.Minezaki@disney.com

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