Disney Executive Wins Prestigious California Volunteering Award
Published on 4/11/18 by Craig Smith
Disney announced yesterday that Karen Kawanami, the company’s Director of Enterprise Social Responsibility Programs, along with the Disneyland Resort, have been honored for their Volunteerism and Community Service.

Image courtesy Disney
Kawanami, who has been with Disney for 30 years, and is the manager of the company’s popular VoluntEARS program, is the recipient of the 2018 California Governor’s Volunteering ans Service Awards Hoffman Prize. According to the organization’s website, the Hoffman Prize “recognizes an exceptional California business executive who demonstrates outstanding and impactful work fostering volunteerism in his or her local community, the State of California, the nation, and the globe.”
Additionally, the Disneyland Resort is the recipient of the California Business Volunteer Program of the Year from the organization in recognition of the work done by the VoluntEARS program.
Kawanami and Disneyland were presented were presented with the prestigious awards earlier today in a ceremony at the California State Capitol.
- News Topic: Disney Company News
Explore Disney History
Take a stroll through Disney history. Click on a year on this interactive timeline to find out everything that happened that year related to Disney.
- 1923
- 1924
- 1925
- 1926
- 1927
- 1928
- 1929
- 1930
- 1931
- 1932
- 1933
- 1934
- 1935
- 1936
- 1937
- 1938
- 1939
- 1940
- 1941
- 1942
- 1943
- 1944
- 1945
- 1946
- 1947
- 1948
- 1949
- 1950
- 1951
- 1952
- 1953
- 1954
- 1955
- 1956
- 1957
- 1958
- 1959
- 1960
- 1961
- 1962
- 1963
- 1964
- 1965
- 1966
- 1967
- 1968
- 1969
- 1970
- 1971
- 1972
- 1973
- 1974
- 1975
- 1976
- 1977
- 1978
- 1979
- 1980
- 1981
- 1982
- 1983
- 1984
- 1985
- 1986
- 1987
- 1988
- 1989
- 1990
- 1991
- 1992
- 1993
- 1994
- 1995
- 1996
- 1997
- 1998
- 1999
- 2000
- 2001
- 2002
- 2003
- 2004
- 2005
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- 2009
- 2010
- 2011
- 2012
- 2013
- 2014
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
Our Latest Videos
The Top 5 Disney World News Headlines for the Week



The Latest Disney News
- Changes Coming to Space Ranger Spin at Magic Kingdom
- Opening Date Announced for The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure and Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After at Hollywood Studios
- Walt Disney World Announces Goofy Takeover of CommuniCore Hall This Summer
- ‘Avengers Assemble!’ Stunt Show Ending at Disney California Adventure’s Avengers Campus
- Disney Vacation Club Announces ‘Château de Voyage’ at EPCOT’s Canada Pavilion
- Mattel renews global licensing agreement with Disney for Toy Story
- Gap Launches New The Muppets Inspired Adult Apparel Collection
- “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle” Announces PlayStation 5 Release Date
- ‘Snow White’ on Track for $45 Million Opening Weekend
- Disney Visa Cardmember Free Dining Plan Offer Announced for Walt Disney World