Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Universal Studios Hollywood’s Philanthropic Discover A Star Foundation Raises $1 Million in 2023

Universal Studios Hollywood’s Philanthropic Discover A Star Foundation Raises $1 Million in 2023

Did you hear? This amazing foundation raised $1 million to Benefit Greater Los Angeles Community Nonprofits Supporting Critical Poverty and Children’s Issues.


They Raised the Stakes in 2024 as the Foundation Marks a Milestone 30 Years

Thank you USH for sharing this wonderful news with us. We're so proud to support theme parks that give back.

For 29 years, Discover A Star (DAS) has been at the forefront of providing grants to select Los Angeles nonprofit organizations working to alleviate homelessness and poverty as well as critical children issues.

            “Giving back to our community and making a difference in people’s lives is as important to us as creating exceptional rides and attractions for our guests,” said Scott Strobl, Executive Vice President and General Manger, Universal Studios Hollywood and President of the Discover A Star Foundation. “I believe it is our responsibility to lead by example and I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished and the invaluable impact we consistently make year over year within our community. As Discover A Star marks its 30th year of giving in 2024, we look forward to making an even greater impact in the years to come.”

            In 2023, the $1M+ was raised to benefit 38 notable nonprofit groups with the remarkable ability to affect the lives of more than one million Los Angelenos.

            Below follows a partial list of the Discover A Star 2023 nonprofit beneficiaries:

Covenant House California: $75,000 to support expansion of Hollywood site and rapid rehousing programs for homeless youth.

Downtown Women’s Center: $75,000 to support programs for women experiencing homelessness including bridge, permanent supportive housing and Whole Women’s Saturday enrichment program.

My Friend’s Place: $75,000 to support expansion of services supporting homeless youth and transitional age young adults.

Homeboy Industries: $50,000 to support comprehensive 18-month Re-Entry and Healing Program focusing on education, employment readiness and mental health support for formerly incarcerated/gang involved individuals.

Los Angeles Regional Food Bank: $50,000 to support operation which provides fresh and shelf stable food to over 600 partner agencies across Los Angeles County, reaching 900,000 people monthly.

School on Wheels: $50,000 to support programs aimed at enhancing educational opportunities for homeless children from Kindergarten through twelfth grade.

A Window Between Worlds: $25,000 to provide scholarships for art facilitator training at L.A. County based human services organizations that focus on youth and underserved families.

Assistance League of Los Angeles: $25,000 to support the Operation School Bell program which provides clothing and school supplies to LAUSD students in need.

Inclusion Matters by Shane’s Inspiration: $25,000 to support the Together We Are Able classroom program that promotes inclusion, respect and diversity to unite children of all abilities.

Junior Achievement Southern California: $25,000 to support mission of teaching young people how to make smart financial decisions, plan for their futures, and inspire them to believe in themselves.

Los Angeles LGBT Center: $25,000 to support Culinary Arts Program that provides the foundation of required culinary skills for students to secure jobs and pursue meaningful careers throughout the Los Angeles restaurant and hospitality sectors.

Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles: $25,000 to fulfill the wishes of children between the ages of 2½ and 18 who confront critical illness.

Piece by Piece: $25,000 to support program that teaches individuals who have experienced homelessness or economic insecurity the art of mosaic making enabling them to build confidence, earn supplementary income and an improve their quality of life.

Project Angel Food: $25,000 to support home delivered medically tailored meals and nutritional counseling program for individuals living with critical illness in Los Angeles County.

Valley Family Center: $25,000 to support Children's Psychoeducational Services Program, providing Counseling and services for children who are dealing with the effects of poverty and exposure to violence, abuse or neglect.
 

Since its inception, Discover A Star has raised over $12M. Funds are raised annually through a variety of programs and opportunities supported by Universal Studios Hollywood that include the Discover A Star Charity Classic Golf Tournament, Discover A Scare Halloween Horror Nights event, and the Round Up for Charity program across the theme park and select venues at Universal CityWalk, among other outreach approaches

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Knott's Berry Farm Kicks Off 2024 with the Peanuts Celebration running January 27th to February 25th #KnottsPeanutsCelebration

Snoopy and the PEANUTS Gang Will Soon Take Over Knott’s Berry Farm and a New Limited-Time “Franklin” Exhibit Set to Debut


Welcome to 2024 and a new year of Knott's Seasons of Fun!

Kicking off with the Peanuts Celebration running January 27 through February 25.

The park-wide celebration features a new Franklin-focused exhibit, plenty of new PEANUTS-inspired cuisine, a fun lineup of returning shows and photo ops that allow guests to step into the iconic Charles M. Schulz comic strips. Throughout the park, guests will have plenty of chances to play and interact with their favorite PEANUTS characters.

We are so excited for Sketch School, it's my favorite, and perfect for the whole family to participate in!


So let's get into it...

At Calico's Town Hall, guests will enter a new, limited-time exhibit dedicated to Charles Schulz's iconic character, Franklin, and discover his importance to history and pop culture. He joined the PEANUTS Gang in 1968 when Charlie Brown met Franklin at the beach. Plus, visitors can hang out with Franklin and snap a photo with him that is too cool for school!

At the Calico Mine Stage, the PEANUTS characters will perform the musical game show It's Your Life, Charlie Brown, with the loveable title character getting the surprise of his life. There will be music, fun and surprise guests, including the world's most famous beagle, Snoopy. The stage will transform at nightfall as the park hosts Snoopy's Legendary Rooftop Concert. The Peanuts Gang has teamed up with the indie band, The Jelly of the Month Club, for a high-energy spectacle sure to have everyone dancing.

The PEANUTS-inspired festivities will continue at the Bird Cage Theatre as the park offers an experience that teaches the young and the young at heart how to draw their favorite PEANUTS characters. The PEANUTS Sketch School will include our resident art teacher, providing step-by-step instructions on creating the perfect PEANUTS masterpiece. Also in Bird Cage Theatre will be Charlie Brown’s Trivia Challenge, where guests can test their knowledge with PEANUTS universe questions and eye-popping visual challenges.


A western escapade occurs with Franklin and Linus at Calico Park as they transform into cowboys in the PEANUTS Cowboy Jamboree. The boys are looking to challenge guests with some of Calico's root-toot-tootiest games. Also in Ghost Town is Pigpen's Pig Pen, where everyone's favorite messy pal will join the rest of the PEANUTS Gang as he hosts a special meetup at the Livery Stables with some of his animal friends.


Throughout the park, guests will not only be able to meet, greet, and play with the PEANUTS gang, but also enjoy nearly a dozen different family and kid-friendly rides and attractions around the park including Calico Mine Ride, Knott’s Bear-y Tales: Return to the Fair and the Carrusel de California. Bigger thrills are also in store for the more adventurous guests on favorites like GhostRider, Xcelerator, Silver Bullet and HangTime. Debuting this summer, the reimagined Camp Snoopy will offer more to explore. Campers of all ages will be able to become full-fledged Beagle Scouts as they explore new rides, including a family coaster, along with new character experiences, entertainment, a dining hall, a camp store, plus more guest amenities.

The best way to enjoy Knott's PEANUTS Celebration – plus all of the other Seasons of Fun in 2024, including the reimagined Camp Snoopy – is with a Season Pass!

Stay connected and get all the latest news by using #KnottsPeanutsCelebration 

See ya at the Farm!