Disney Donates $250,000 to Walt Disney Birthplace Project in Chicago

If you can dream the wish we're making

On a star is coming true ...

So goes the chorus of "If You Can Dream," a Disney princess song that captures the hearts of many a little girl (and big girl, at that).

On Thursday, the Walt Disney Company made a wish come true that speaks to the roots of the entire enterprise. The company pledged to donate $250,000 to a project now under way on the North Side of Chicago, the restoration of Walt Disney's birthplace and creation of a children's learning center.

Through a not-for-profit organization Dina Benadon and Brent Young own the property. Todd Regan is the executive director. Disney's $250,000 donation is a welcome boost on the dream they're making in Chicago. The contribution was announced by Bob Iger, Disney's CEO and chairman, at the annual shareholders meeting, which took place at Roosevelt University in Chicago.

"We are so very pleased that the Walt Disney Company is honoring the roots of their founder with their moral and financial support. It will make a huge difference our the project to save and restore his historic birthplace," Regan told Patch. "Our current timeline is to have the exterior completed this spring and to continue demolition work on the interior. The news today from Disney will help us speed up the project significantly and we hope to share our revised plans very soon."

Complete restoration of the house and creation of a museum would take millions of dollars, Regan told the Chicago Tribune in December at party kicking off the fundraising campaign on Walt Disney's 114th birthday. 

Here's some Disney house history and vision behind the project:

This house was designed and built by Flora and Elias Disney, Walt and Roy Disney’s mother and father. Both Walt and Roy were born in this home and lived there until Walt was four and Roy was twelve years old.

Over the last century, the home has changed hands several times and has been added to and altered significantly. These “renovations” have almost completely covered up the authentic details of the house.

We have already lost too many buildings that were an incredibly important part of Walt Disney’s history.

And that is why we have purchased this house and will restore it to its original state, honoring and preserving the home for generations to come.

Our project is about more than just a restoration. It is also an opportunity to research this period of the Disney family history which has sparked a larger vision for the home beyond the restoration. ...

Our dream is that The Walt Disney Birthplace becomes a portal to new approaches in early childhood development and helps to inspire future Walts and Roys.