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SorcererMickey
January 16th, 2008, 21:03
Disney donates to U.K. hospital
Cash to help redevelopment of site

By ALI JAAFAR

The Walt Disney Co. Tuesday donated £1 million ($1.96 million) to the U.K.’s Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity.

Move is part of a partnership to help the hospital raise $19.6 million for a redevelopment that will include a Disney-branded interactive zone for children and youths.

Disney prexy and CEO Bob Iger, accompanied by Mickey and Minnie Mouse, gave the check to Great Ormond Street chief exec Dr. Jane Collins.

Disney execs also have set up an appeal website. The first 50 people who donate to Great Ormond Street online will receive limited-edition Peter Pan lithographs from Walt Disney studios.

The relationship between Disney and Great Ormond Street dates to 1939, when Walt Disney acquired the animation rights to “Peter Pan” from the hospital. “Peter Pan” author J.M. Barrie gave the hospital, one of the U.K.’s leading providers in healthcare for children, all rights to the story in 1929.

Proceeds from the 2004 U.K. premiere of Johnny Depp starrer “Finding Neverland,” telling how Barrie came to write the story about the little boy who wouldn’t grow up, went to the hospital.

An officially sanctioned sequel to Barrie’s tale is in the works. “Peter Pan in Scarlet,” based on author Geraldine McCaughrean’s 2006 novel, is being developed by the U.K.’s Headline Pictures, BBC Films and U.K. Film Council.

Source: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117979050.html?categoryid=18&cs=1

MystikPiglit
January 17th, 2008, 15:40
It's nice to read some good news for a change. :thumbs:
I have the 'Scarlet' book, it has the potential to be a great film. :)

AlecK
January 17th, 2008, 16:04
Johnny Depp donated a million as well to thank them for looking after his daughter who was ill last year while he was shooting a movie in london :thumbs:

PaulaK
January 17th, 2008, 17:00
Johnny Depp donated a million as well to thank them for looking after his daughter who was ill last year while he was shooting a movie in london :thumbs:

I read in the news this morning that the hospital wouldn't confirm that was true. So far it seems to be a rumour started by the press.

The Blue Fairy
January 17th, 2008, 17:24
Johnny Depp donated a million as well to thank them for looking after his daughter who was ill last year while he was shooting a movie in london :thumbs:

I would think the sum is more likely to have come from money raised from the Sweeney Todd premiere. Guess Johnny may have contributed also!

SorcererMickey
January 17th, 2008, 17:42
All reports I have found say that, if it actually happened, the sum was 1 million pounds and that the contribution did come from him.

There are a few reports that say Depp did visit the hospital dressed as Jack Sparrow and read stories to the kids, but that the contribution is not true..

Vikki
January 19th, 2008, 12:54
There is a video of the presentation day on the disney.co.uk homepage