Cotino, a Storyliving by Disney community, recently celebrated military families for Veterans and Military Families Month.
Cotino Celebrates Military Families
Storyliving by Disney welcomed families from Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command and Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms to the community in California’s Coachella Valley. The celebration was held in partnership with Blue Star Families, an organization Disney has supported for more than 15 years.
Families gathered at the Incredibles-inspired Parr House, where they enjoyed lunch and a tour of the home.
Pixar artists joined the celebration to create one-of-a-kind portraits of families, turning them into superheroes. Kids also got to participate in arts and crafts on the event lawn.
The day ended with a surprise visit from Mickey Mouse.
Claire Bilby, senior vice president of Storyliving by Disney, said the celebration reflects the kind of connection Storyliving by Disney hopes to foster both inside its communities and in the places they call home.
“Being part of a community means being a good neighbor, and days like this are a wonderful example of what that can look like,” said Bilby. “We are proud to bring together military families, Disney storytellers and our Cotino community to create moments of connection and joy, while showing our appreciation for families who give so much through their service.”
“Military families give so much in service to our country, and they deserve moments that are simply about being together and making memories,” said Blue Star Families Senior Vice President of External Affairs Ashley Saville. “We’re grateful to Disney for helping create a day filled with joy, connection and a few unforgettable surprises for these families.”
“Military life asks a lot of the entire family, so having a day where we could just be together, have fun and see the kids light up was incredibly special,” said Blue Star Families member, Australia Herrera. “From seeing ourselves as superheroes to meeting Mickey, there were surprises around every corner.”
The day before, Cotino residents and Disney Cast Members joined forces through Disney VoluntEARS to decorate special teddy bears for the children attending the celebration. Each bear was created as a small expression of appreciation and was waiting for its new owner when families arrived at Cotino.
“What makes Cotino special is the sense of community we’re creating together. Seeing our residents and Disney Cast Members come together to make this day even more meaningful for military families is a wonderful reflection of that spirit,” said Cotino Vice President of Operations Jay Critcher.
“We appreciate the opportunity that Cotino has given us to volunteer to help the families of veterans and members of the military,” said Cotino resident, Larry Dick. “We know the struggle they must go through, especially during the holidays. We were so happy to help.”
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