John Berry thanks Roy Disney for their $100,000 donation to the "The Centennial Commission Scholarship Fund for Conservation" during the Centennial Celebration at Riverview Park. — Photo by Kent Phillips

The Walt Disney Scholarship Fund

The Walt Disney Company has played a significant role in the Centennial Celebration. Roy E. Disney, vice chairman of The Walt Disney Company, presented a $100,000 gift to establish a scholarship program to encourage graduate students in conservation and environmental education. The gift creates "The Centennial Commission Scholarship Fund for Conservation" through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The announcement is part of an overall effort between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and The Walt Disney Company to work together to bring attention to the country's National Wildlife Refuge System.

One of the many posters of refuges along the train ride to Rafiki's Planet Watch. — Photo by Jennifer Koches

The Walt Disney Company is also saluting the NWRS Centennial through messages and graphics in Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park at Walt Disney World Resort. Guests will be able to pin point refuges near their homes on a large map and also will see four ecosystem exhibits reflecting the diverse habitats of the refuge system.

Other Disney businesses are also promoting the refuge centennial, including special programming on ESPN Outdoors The company's Worldwide Outreach Web site, DisneyHand.com, will carry a link to the NWRS site. ABC has taped public service announcements featuring Roy Disney.

From left to right: Beth Stevens, VP - Disney's Animal Kingdom; Kym Murphy, Sr. VP, Environmental Policy - The Walt Disney Company; Roy E. Disney, Vice Chairman - The Walt Disney Board of Directors; Gale Norton, Secretary of the U.S. Dept. of the Interior; Bill Horn; Sonya Deese-Byrnes, General Manager - Disney Vacation Clubs; Bill Warren, VP Public Affairs; Judge Craig Manson; Renae Brock, General Manager - Disney's Vero Beach Resort — Photo by Kent Phillips

Disney guests can locate refuges near their homes or where they travel on this big refuge map at Animal Kingdom. — Photo by Jennifer Koches		Disney guests are welcomed to Rafiki's Planet Watch and reminded of the Centennial Celebration. — Photo by Jennifer Koches