(Photo (from left to right):  Leila Chang-Ripich, CEO, Hand on Miami; Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez; Meg Crofton, President, Walt Disney Company; Tracey Hoover, Chief of Staff, HandsOn Network; Brett Bibeau, Managing Director, Miami River Commission.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez joined the Walt Disney Company and Hands on Miami, a partner of the Mayor's local volunteer initiative, "V," on a day of service and volunteerism to benefit the Miami River area at the Miami-Dade County public housing development, Robert King High Towers, on Tuesday, September 29, 2009. 

This day of service to the community included more than 200 volunteers, in addition to Walt Disney Company employees, and resulted in needed improvements including painting, shoreline restoration, and landscaping, among other things.   

"Thanks to this public-private partnership, we will continue to help revitalize and support the communities in which we live and serve," said Mayor Carlos Alvarez.  "It gives me great pleasure to see how our combined efforts can make a positive difference in our community."

Beginning in January of 2010, the Walt Disney Company wants to inspire one million people to volunteer a day of service through Hands on Miami, a member of HandsOn Network.  In turn, Disney will give each volunteer a one day admission to a theme park at a Walt Disney World® or Walt Disneyland® Resort for free.
As the nation's largest volunteer network, HandsOn Network has 250 on-the-ground volunteer action centers across the country and connects volunteers to more than 70,000 nonprofit agencies that need their help. Many of the opportunities will be projects that entire families can participate in together.

Mayor Carlos Alvarez's "V" initiative is dedicated to improving the quality of life of Miami-Dade County residents by partnering with local non-profit organizations and assisting them reach their goals.  Drawing on the collective efforts of government, business leaders and the community, the "V" movement assists in creating a more caring community.