Disney's back-to-school campaign gets a boost with the participation of 'Abbott Elementary' actor, Sheryl Lee Ralph, lending her voice.
Disney's 2025 Back-to-School Initiative: Empowering Under-Resourced Schools Nationwide
The Walt Disney Company, the parent company of ABC, Hulu, and this ABC station, has launched a comprehensive back-to-school initiative aimed at assisting students and teachers in all 50 states. This nationwide campaign partners with DonorsChoose and First Book to provide essential school supplies and brand-new books to under-resourced schools across the nation.
The initiative is a testament to Disney's long-standing commitment to education. Since 2000, the company has donated over 93 million books to First Book, a non-profit organisation that provides educational resources to schools in need. This partnership continues to provide books for classrooms across the nation, fostering a love for reading and learning in young minds.
Disney's campaign extends its support to schools affected by the 2025 Los Angeles fires. The company has pledged additional funding to help teachers restock supplies as schools reopen, ensuring that learning continues uninterrupted.
The initiative emphasizes the importance of books in learning. Kyle Zimmer, President and CEO of First Book, highlighted Disney's 25-year collaboration to donate books that engage and inspire young readers. The campaign also features public support through a promotional campaign starring Emmy Award-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, who lends her voice to the initiative, raising awareness and encouraging community involvement.
Educators can visit FirstBook.org/DisneyBackToSchool and DonorsChoose.org/DisneyBackToSchool to participate or request support.
Meanwhile, "Abbott Elementary," a popular show returning to ABC this fall and currently streaming on Hulu, has also shown its support. Stars Chris Perfetti and William Stanford Davis were pictured at a VoluntEARS event, Disney's long-running volunteer programme that contributes to school supply drives for underserved communities, as it has for the past 25 years.
Alix Guerrier, CEO of DonorsChoose, shared that at school, students can channel their talents and learn to authentically be themselves, often needing resources to encourage this. The initiative aims to provide these resources, making it easier for educators to request needed classroom supplies through DonorsChoose.org and for teachers serving low-income communities to join First Book for free membership, gaining access to quality books.
[1] First Book. (2025). Disney Back-to-School Initiative. [Online]. Available: https://www.firstbook.org/disneybacktoschool
[2] DonorsChoose. (2025). Disney Back-to-School Initiative. [Online]. Available: https://www.donorschoose.org/disneybacktoschool
[3] The Walt Disney Company. (2025). Disney Provides Extra Donations to Schools Affected by 2025 Los Angeles Wildfires. [Online]. Available: https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/news/2025/disney-provides-extra-donations-to-schools-affected-by-2025-los-angeles-wildfires
[4] The Walt Disney Company. (2025). Emmy Award-Winning Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph Lends Voice to Disney Back-to-School Initiative. [Online]. Available: https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/news/2025/emmy-award-winning-actress-sheryl-lee-ralph-lends-voice-to-disney-back-to-school-initiative
[5] First Book. (2025). Disney and First Book Partner to Provide Books for Classrooms Across the Nation. [Online]. Available: https://www.firstbook.org/disney-and-first-book-partner-to-provide-books-for-classrooms-across-the-nation
The Disney Back-to-School Initiative, within the scope of this nationwide campaign, extends aid to under-resourced schools not only by providing essential school supplies and brand-new books, but also by promoting education-and-self-development through books that foster a love for reading and learning in young minds. As part of this initiative, Disney partners with non-profit organizations like First Book to offer books that engage and inspire young readers, aligning with the mission of improving lifestyle and education across the nation.
