The Walt Disney Company Builds on Its Commitment to Celebrating Military Families
Joint Base Pearl Harbor- Hickam, HI, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam will host a family event on May 16, 2025, as part of Blue Star Families’ Blue Star Books Program in collaboration with The Walt Disney Company.
This event, organized by Blue Star Families in partnership with Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR), invites U.S. military children and their families on Oahu to attend and receive free Disney books, as well as participate in other Disney-themed activities, including storytelling by military leadership and Disney VoluntEARS from Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa. Blue Star Families is the largest nonprofit serving military and veteran families, empowering them to thrive as they serve through a vast network of in-person and virtual programming.
Guest speakers and readers at the event include:
- Dylan Rodgers, 2025-2026 Aulani Ambassador
- CAPT Samuel White, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam
- Meredith Terrian, Vice President of Chapter Impact, Blue Star Families
The 2024 Military Family Lifestyle Survey reported one-third (32%) of active-duty family respondents completed a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move within the 12 months preceding the survey fielding.
“Moving all the time is tough for military families, making it hard to keep friends and feel like you belong in a new place. But Blue Star Books helps military kids grow and feel special, no matter where they go! This event brings families together, and when they’re connected, everyone wins!” said Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO of Blue Star Families.
To date, Disney Publishing has contributed more than 300,000 books to the Blue Star Books program at events around the globe and donations to base libraries, Department of Defense schools, and military-impacted public schools and libraries.
“The Walt Disney Company is incredibly proud of our ongoing work with Blue Star Families, supporting and celebrating military families for over a decade. Our enduring respect for the U.S. Armed Forces started with our founders, Walt and Roy O. Disney, who both served their country during World War I,” said Jessica Moore, Vice President of Government Relations, The Walt Disney Company. “We are thrilled to continue their legacy through this collaboration, sharing the magic of our stories to inspire these military children to become the next generation of storytellers.”
Onsite Media Contact:
Jhewel Felipe, Community Relations Outreach Manager
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
Public Affairs Office
JBPHHCOMREL@us.navy.mil
(808) 371-5189
Deadline for Media RSVP: End of business day, Tuesday, May 13, 2025
About Blue Star Families
Blue Star Families (BSF) is the nation’s largest military and veteran family support organization. Its research-driven approach builds strong communities with a focus on human-centered design and innovative solutions. A “blue star family” is the family of a currently serving military member, including active duty, National Guard, reserve forces, and those transitioning out of service. Since its founding in 2009, BSF has delivered more than $336 million in benefits and impacts more than 1.5 million people annually through an expansive network of chapters and outposts. For more information, click here.
About The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international entertainment and media enterprise that includes three core business segments: Entertainment, Sports and Experiences.. Being a good corporate citizen is a time-honored Disney tradition. Through contributions, collaborations with local organizations, in-kind gifts, and volunteering, Disney helps to brighten the lives of kids and families in need and strengthen communities around the world. For more information, visit thewaltdisneycompany.com/citizenship or heroesworkhere.thismomentone.com.
About Morale, Welfare & Recreation (MWR)
As one of the Navy’s N92 Fleet Readiness programs, MWR supports the quality-of-life needs of service members and their family members. MWR’s mission is to deliver high-quality, customer-focused programs and services that contribute to resiliency, retention, readiness, and quality of life. For more information on MWR at JBPHH, please visit https://jbphh.greatlifehawaii.com.
CONTACT: Media Relations Blue Star Families (844) 202-7827, ext. 4 media@bluestarfam.org
