Walt Disney Co. To Donate $2M To Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts

BURBANK (CBSLA.com) — The Walt Disney Company announced Thursday it will donate $2 million to relief efforts from Hurricane Sandy.

The company split the donation into two parts — $1 million for immediate relief efforts will go to the American Red Cross and $1 million will be for organizations focused on rebuilding efforts.

"In addition, Cast Member and employee eligible donations to organizations involved in disaster relief will be matched, dollar for dollar, by Disney Employee Matching Gifts: A Program of The Walt Disney Company Foundation," the company said in a statement.

"It's hard to fathom the devastation from this storm," Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Co. Robert A. Iger said.  "Thousands of people in the hurricane's path lost everything and face the daunting challenge of putting their lives and communities back together."

Disney –ABC Television Group and ESPN will also encourage viewers to support relief and rebuilding efforts through public service announcements.

"We hope this helps provide immediate aid needed to get through this disaster and begin the road to recovery," Iger said.