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Day of Giving 2017 offers helping hand to less fortunate Los Angeles children at Universal Studios Hollywood

in Events, Theme Parks, Universal Studios Hollywood

Posted on by Mike Celestino 1 Comment
Five smiling Los Angeles kids celebrate outdoors, each proudly raising new shoes above their heads in front of a colorful mural, bringing the spirit of Day of Giving 2017 to life with the excitement and joy of a theme park adventure.

Universal Studios Hollywood's 13th annual "Day of Giving" event on Thursday, November 9, 2017.

Theme parks make for a terrific way to escape from everyday life and to draw tourism and spending to an area, but they can also give back to their local communities in meaningful and heartfelt ways. Such is the case with Universal Studios Hollywood‘s annual Day of Giving, which held its 13th yearly event at the Los Angeles-located park this past Thursday.

Serving as the home base for Operation School Bell (one of six charities represented by Day of Giving), Universal Studios Hollywood and its team members helped nearly three hundred homeless children gain access to new clothing, sneakers, and school supplies. The children also enjoyed a day of fun in “The Entertainment Capital of L.A.,” where they experienced the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, and the world-famous Studio Tour.

WATCH LAST YEAR’S OPERATION SCHOOL BELL AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD:

Like Operation School Bell, the remaining five charities– namely AIDS Project L.A., Downtown Women’s Center, Tree People, Union Station Homeless Services, and Shane’s Inspiration, are beneficiaries of Universal’s Discover a Star Foundation, which aims to “empower individuals and families to lead more productive and fulfilling lives.”

Discover a Star Foundation was founded in 1995, with the stated mission of providing financial assistance to local nonprofit groups in the Los Angeles area, with over nine million dollars having been raised in the ensuing twenty-two years. To find out more about the program and how Universal Studios Hollywood is helping to improve Southern California and its communities, be sure to visit the park’s official website.

PHOTOS:

A woman and a young girl with a backpack stroll past the colorful mobile clinic setup during Day of Giving 2017 at Universal Studios Hollywood, surrounded by helpful volunteers and stacks of donation boxes as local Los Angeles kids enjoy special support and entertainment. During Universal Studios Hollywood’s Day of Giving 2017, a team member hands a blue drawstring bag to a young guest, one of many Los Angeles kids enjoying the charitable event, with rows of giveaway bags displayed on the table nearby. At Universal Studios Hollywood’s Day of Giving 2017, a smiling woman kneels to assist a young boy amongst lively crowds and event tents, as the park hosts a special day dedicated to supporting children across Los Angeles. Two young guests at Universal Studios Hollywood sit on the ground, hugging teddy bears and smiling with excitement, large blue souvenir bags by their sides during the park’s Day of Giving 2017 event. Excited Los Angeles kids with blue swag bags gather outside, beaming alongside a supervising adult during Day of Giving 2017, ready for a day filled with fun and adventure.

in Events, Theme Parks, Universal Studios Hollywood

Mike Celestino

After growing up on Long Island, Mike has spent his adult life in Southern California. He’s been fascinated by theme parks since a very early age, and has contributed to Inside the Magic since April of 2015. His other interests include Star Wars, LEGO, and The Muppets.

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