Building on the success of its ‘Heroes Work Here’ initiative to hire,
train and support military veterans, Disney teams with USAA to help
Texas-based companies build their own veteran-hiring programs.
BURBANK, Calif. & SAN ANTONIO -- (Business Wire)
The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) and USAA will bring Disney’s Veterans
Institute to San Antonio on Aug. 19, with a daylong seminar designed
to inspire companies in the region to build their own veteran hiring
programs.
Presented by USAA, a leading financial services provider for the
military community, the San Antonio event builds on the success of
Disney’s inaugural Veterans Institute last November at Walt
Disney World Resort, which attracted more than 500 participants and
dignitaries, including First Lady Michelle Obama and Disney Chairman and
CEO Robert A. Iger. Attendees will hear from experts from Disney’s Heroes
Work Here initiative which hires, trains and supports former service
members—along with government officials, veterans and nonprofit veterans
service organizations who will share their experiences, best practices
and tips for making a successful transition from the military to the
civilian workforce. This is the first of several anticipated regional Veterans
Institutes that Disney hopes to bring to select cities around the
nation.
“Disney is extremely proud of the dedicated veterans who work here and
we’re pleased to expand the reach of our Veterans Institute with
USAA to help create career opportunities for even more of America’s
servicemen and women,” Mr. Iger said. “We’re always eager to share what
we’ve learned from our successful Heroes Work Here program with
other companies looking to hire highly qualified veterans.”
In addition to serving the military community’s financial needs, USAA is
also a leader in veteran and military spouse hiring. Named the Victory
Media No. 1 Military Friendly Employer® for 2013 and 2014, and the No. 1
Military Times Best for Vets: Employer 2012-2014, USAA hired 1,414
veterans and military spouses in 2013, nearly 31 percent of all of the
organization’s new hires.
“We have hired more than 8,700 veterans and military spouses from 2006
through June 2014. They have brought valuable skills and experience,
mission focus and a deep dedication to serve,” said retired Army Maj.
Gen. Joe Robles Jr., USAA’s CEO. “The Department of Veterans Affairs
lists Texas as one of three states that are the most densely populated
with veterans. With the potential to help so many companies hire
veterans, we’re proud to join the Veterans Institute in sharing
our experience in recruiting, hiring and developing veterans with
companies across Texas.”
Veterans Institute is the latest effort in Disney’s long history
of respect and appreciation for the U.S. armed services, and it
leverages the success of Heroes Work Here, which Disney launched
in 2012 with a commitment to hire more than 1,000 veterans by 2015—a
goal the company has already surpassed, with more than 3,800 former
service members hired.
Highlights of the San Antonio Veterans Institute workshop will
include an inside look at Disney and USAA best practices; renowned
keynote speakers, panelists, advice and insights from experts and elite
veterans support organizations; stories from veterans about their own
transition to the civilian workforce; and a presentation by Disney
Institute, the professional development arm of The Walt Disney Company.
Featured speakers and presenters will include Mr. Robles, ABC News
anchor Bob Woodruff, and James Schmeling, co-founder of the Institute
for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University.
About Disney’s Heroes Work Here
Supporting the U.S. Armed Forces has long been a Disney tradition, and
Disney’s Heroes Work Here continues that proud legacy with a
companywide initiative to hire, train and support military veterans.
Disney introduced the program in March 2012 with a commitment to hire at
least 1,000 veterans by 2015. Having exceeded that goal in the first
year alone, with 1,300 veterans hired, the company announced in March
2013 that it would create opportunities for another 1,000 former service
members over the next two years. To date, Disney has hired more than
3,800 veterans through Heroes Work Here.
Disney’s Heroes Work Here initiative also features a public
awareness campaign to encourage employers across the U.S. to hire former
military service members. The campaign includes the free Veterans
Institute workshops, as well as public service announcements
highlighting the skills and experience of veterans who work at Disney.
The PSAs direct viewers to the White House’s Joining Forces initiative (www.joiningforces.gov)
and have aired across Disney’s media properties including ESPN, ABC and
ABC Family, making more than 500 million impressions.
The third component of Disney’s Heroes Work Here initiative is
philanthropy. Disney’s philanthropic support of veteran and military
organizations has exceeded $1 million since the launch of Heroes Work
Here, and through the Disney VoluntEARS program, employees have
engaged in several service projects with veterans organizations in
communities around the country.
About USAA
USAA provides insurance, banking, investments, retirement products and
advice to 10.4 million current and former members of the U.S. military
and their families. Known for its legendary commitment to its members,
USAA is consistently recognized for outstanding service, employee
well-being and financial strength. USAA membership is open to all who
are serving our nation in the U.S. military or have received an
honorable discharge – and their eligible family members. Founded in
1922, USAA is headquartered in San Antonio. For more information about
USAA, follow us on Facebook
or Twitter (@USAA),
or visit usaa.com.
About Disney Institute
Disney Institute is the external business development and training arm
of The Walt Disney Company that is focused on exporting Disney business
insights in the areas of leadership, culture, service and more. For more
than two decades, Disney Institute has helped organizations around the
world drive sustainable business results through organizational
transformations. Unique to Disney Institute is the opportunity to engage
experienced Disney professionals and observe key examples from a “living
laboratory,” taking organizations behind the scenes to explore firsthand
how Disney business insights and time-tested methodologies are
operationalized. To learn more, visit disneyinstitute.com or call
321-939-4600.
To participate in the conversation regarding the Disney Veterans
Institute, please use the hashtag #DisneyVeteransInstitute.
Contacts:
Disney Corporate Communications
David Jefferson, 818-560-4832
or
USAA
Public Relations
Pete Casiano, 210-237-8323
Source: The Walt Disney Company
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