First Lady to Give Keynote Speech at Disney’s Veterans Institute Event
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Edward Linsmier/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — First lady Michelle Obama will give the keynote address next month at the first Veterans Institute workshop presented by The Walt Disney Company.
The day-long workshop, part of Disney’s initiative to support veterans and encourage other companies to hire them, will take place on Nov. 14 at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla.
The free event will feature veteran and business panel discussions; appearances by Disney on-air personalities, including ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff; advice from experts and veteran support organizations, as well as veterans telling their own stories about becoming part of the civilian workforce.
The workshop is the latest effort by Disney to help the men and women of the U.S. armed services. In 2012, the company launched its Heroes Work Here program, in which it made a commitment to hire, train and support military veterans. Through that program, the company hired more than 1,300 veterans and has pledged to hire 1,000 more. It has also highlighted veterans’ skills in a public service campaign and offered more than $1 million in philanthropic support for veteran and military organizations.
Robert A. Iger, Disney’s chairman and CEO, said in a statement that the company was honored to have the first lady join its first Veterans Institute, and he praised Obama’s efforts to raise awareness about the needs of veterans and their families.
In 2011, Obama and Jill Biden, the wife of Vice President Joe Biden, launched Joining Forces — an organization to connect servicemen and servicewomen, veterans, and their spouses with the resources they need to find jobs. The program highlights the veterans’ potential, expands their career development opportunities and helps employers create family-friendly workplaces for them.
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