Nicolasa Nevarez - President Louis Boish - VP, Finance Stephanie Fields - VP, Chapters Laurie Smith - VP, Membership Brian Hugo - Special Events Coordinator Paul Schnebelen - Legends Chair Linda Rolls - Charities Chair Melissa Smith - Secretary Teri Jo Countryman - VP, Media Relations and Communications Eric Yokoyama - Editor-in-Chief, Newsletter Theo Fukushima - Webmaster Ted Bradpiece - Director at Large Christine Demmitt - Director at Large Jeannie Evans - Director at Large
The Disneyana Fan Club or DFC was founded in 1984 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of Walt Disney's legacy. Its published aim is to provide Disneyana enthusiasts worldwide with news, information, and events designed to enhance their "experience with, and love of, all things Disney." The club has twenty-five chapters in the United States, Canada, Japan and Australia. Disneyana has held an annual convention since the early 1990s which pre-dates collector events produced by the Disney company by over a decade.[1]
Charitable beneficiaries
Each year money is raised at various events, expos and auctions to benefit worthy causes.
West Coast
Proceeds from events and auctions on the west coast go to Ryman Arts in Los Angeles in order to train, educate and encourage teenagers in arts and artists. Ryman has been a beneficiary since 1989. Herb Ryman was the artist responsible for designing Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland.
East Coast
On the east coast, proceeds raised benefit Give Kids The World which is located just outside Orlando, Florida. Give Kids the World is a specially designed theme park village for children (and their families) who suffer from life-threatening illnesses. Providing wish-granting (in coordination with over 250 organizations worldwide), the organization gives accommodations at its 70-acre resort and also provides meals for week long vacationers. Admission tickets to Orlando resorts and attractions are also donated.
Elsewhere
Throughout the rest of the United States Disneyana Fan Club Chapters will support their own local charities as well.[2]
Chapters Worldwide
There are currently 23 chapters of the DFC worldwide. Events and practices of each chapter vary depending on the needs of each chapter's members.
Each year recipients of this award are chosen for having made significant contributions to the Disney legacy. Honorees include animators, Imagineers, vocal talent, songwriters, actors, executives, a photographer and a research economist. Contributions made by Legends span over eighty years, from the time of the earliest silent films produced by Walt Disney in Kansas City, Missouri, to the most recent films and theme park attractions. Honorees include:[4]
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