Disney World Cast Members do more than just bring joy to the guests at the Walt Disney World Resort, they volunteer their time to support worthy causes helping helpful in their local communities and around the world.  Through a program started by a Disneyland Cast Member in 1995 called Operation Uplift, Disney Cast members can brighten the days of members of our armed forces by writing postcards to soldiers to thank them and encourage them while they are away from home.

Here is the Disney Press Release detailing this great VoluntEAR effort:

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Nov. 10, 2011 — While the nation takes time this Veterans Day to honor those who have served in the armed forces, Disney VoluntEARS have been busy sending their regards through Operation Uplift.


Operation Uplift was founded in 1995 by a Disneyland Cast Member after reading a letter from a soldier during Operation Desert Storm explaining that troops didn’t receive much mail.

Since that time, Disney VoluntEARS around the country have sent more than 90,000 postcards of support, encouragement and thanks to servicemen and servicewomen serving domestically and overseas.

One of those VoluntEARS is Karalynn Rieff, a training analyst for Global Business Technology Strategy who co-chairs the Operation Uplift drive for her team at Walt Disney World Resort.

“This year I was pleased to carry more than 1,000 postcards to the post office,” Rieff said. “In the four years since our team has participated, we’ve sent postcards to service persons in Germany, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Japan and many other locations.”

Rieff said the most rewarding part of participating was the opportunity to share the magic of Disney with military men and women who are serving far from friends and family.

“It’s nice to know that a little postcard with Mickey saluting in front of the flag and a few words can bring some happiness to someone, even when you don’t know where – or who – they are,” she said.