The Walt Disney Co. brightened the future for a host of Central Florida nonprofit organizations Monday as it awarded $4.5 million in community grants.
Organizers said Disney's "Better Together" campaign recognizes different agencies in the community that are reaching out to help others — organizations from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Florida, which pairs mentors with children, to the Community Hope Center of Osceola County, which fights homelessness.
All of the nonprofits awarded Monday rely on public donations to keep their programs going.
"It's part of economy; it's part of the way we have built our community and our country," said Nancy Gidusko, Disney's director of corporate citizenship. "We have the public sector, and we have the private sector and the independent sector, but none of us can do it alone. We have to come together to really solve our community issues and make bright futures for our children."
More than 100 different agencies received grants from Disney, ranging from $5,000 to $365,000.