Universal Studios Hollywood Holds 10th Annual 'Day Of Giving' Event

UNIVERSAL CITY (CBSLA.com) — Universal Studios Hollywood Thursday partnered with Operation School Bell for its 10th annual "Day of Giving" community outreach program.

Hundreds of employee volunteers were deployed to six non-profit organizations throughout Los Angeles.

They played host to 250 young homeless recipients who were bused in from over 30 LAUSD elementary and middle schools.

The day included a clothing and school supply exchange, complimentary lunch and an afternoon at the theme park where the kids had a chance to meet Minions and experience the new 3D Ultra-HD adventure, "Despicable Me Minion Mayhem" and "Super Silly Fun Land" play zone.

"We are dressing 250 needy children in Los Angeles Unified School District," said Kathy Balzer of Operation School Bell. "We provide them with one-week of school clothing from shoes, underwear, uniforms, jackets. They all get a book, hygiene kit, and it's really to try to keep these kids in school."

Steve Zimmer, LAUSD Board of Education Vice President, also participated in distributing uniforms and backpacks. The LAUSD currently enrolls more than 13,000 homeless students in its schools.

The program was planned in honor of National Homeless Youth Awareness Month.