Disney Dreamers Academy 2025 Welcomes Tyler James Williams, Tamela Mann, and Adam Blackstone as Mentors
ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” stars Tyler James Williams as Gregory Eddie • Disney/Pamela Littky
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., March 24, 2025 (VSNewsNetwork.com) — Mentorship program Disney Dreamers Academy, a Walt Disney World Resort initiative that provides career development and life skills experiences to high school students from diverse backgrounds, will host its 2025 session from March 26–30 in Florida. The event will feature Golden Globe-winning actor Tyler James Williams as “DREAMbassador,” alongside Grammy Award-winning artists Tamela Mann and Adam Blackstone.
The program annually selects 100 high school students from across the United States to participate in a multi-day, all-expenses-paid experience. Participants, known as Disney Dreamers, are chosen through an application process that includes essays about their personal stories and aspirations. Each student is accompanied by a parent or guardian.
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Williams, known for his roles in "Everybody Hates Chris" and "Abbott Elementary," will engage with students in career workshops and the event’s commencement ceremony. According to the company, he will also share his career journey and participate in mentoring sessions throughout the event.
Blackstone, a musical director and producer, and Mann, recognized for her work in gospel music and television, are among several notable figures participating. Other confirmed guests include actor David Mann, radio host Rickey Smiley, the band Infinity Song, fashion influencer Jerome Lamaar, and Hot 97 radio personality DJ Suss One.
The event is supported by presenting sponsors Sprite and Delta Air Lines, with additional support from AdventHealth, Zero-G, Dolby, and the Orlando Magic.
Since its founding in 2008, Disney Dreamers Academy has hosted over 1,700 students, many of whom have pursued careers in journalism, the arts, engineering, and other fields. Some former participants have returned to the program as mentors.
For more information, visit www.disneydreamersacademy.com.
Source: Walt Disney World Resort
Sir Elton John Named 15th Glenn Gould Prize Laureate for Artistic and Humanitarian Contributions
Sir Elton John, 15th Glenn Gould Prize Laureate · Photo Credit Peggy Sirota
TORONTO, March 11, 2025 (ENTERTAINMENT INTERVIEWS) — Arts foundation, The Glenn Gould Foundation, has announced that musician Sir Elton John has been named the Laureate of the 15th Glenn Gould Prize. The biennial award recognizes an individual whose lifetime contributions in the arts have enriched the human condition. Sir Elton was selected by an international jury of artists and cultural leaders.
The Glenn Gould Prize, often referred to as the "Nobel Prize of the Arts," includes a CAD$100,000 award for the laureate and a CAD$25,000 Glenn Gould Protégé Prize, granted to a young artist chosen by the winner.
“After spending decades admiring the virtuosity of Glenn Gould’s work, I am awestruck and honoured to receive this award,” said Sir Elton John.
With more than five decades in music, John has sold over 300 million albums, produced more than 50 Top 40 hits, and achieved EGOT status, having received Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards. He is also recognized for his philanthropic efforts, particularly in HIV/AIDS advocacy through the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which has raised over USD$600 million globally.
The 15th Glenn Gould Prize jury was chaired by former Canadian Prime Minister Kim Campbell and included actor Jeremy Irons, screenwriter Lee Hall, BBC Radio 3 Controller Sam Jackson, filmmaker Nyla Innuksuk, and other global arts leaders.
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'In selecting our Laureate, Elton John, we chose to honour someone who has great artistic accomplishments but whose life and whose art has been translated into something much greater than just performance or the consumption of music and things they’ve created. Elton John has used his enormous talent and his great success to change lives. He’s been courageous in taking on causes, whether AIDS, LGBTQ+ rights, addiction and all sorts of issues that were not popular when he engaged with them and he was prepared to take the wonderful success that his musical talent had given him to make a difference in the world. And from our perspective that represents the highest level of achievement for an artist and celebrates the memory of Glenn Gould in the best way,' said Kim Campbell, Jury Chair of the 15th Glenn Gould Prize and former Prime Minister of Canada.
A special public event at Kings Place in London announced the prize, which included performances by South African soprano Pumeza Matshikiza and Canadian pianist Ryan Wang. The official award presentation will take place at a gala in Toronto this fall.
For more information, visit www.glenngould.ca.
Source: The Glenn Gould Foundation
Snoop Dogg’s Dr. Bombay Partners with Boys & Girls Club for Ice Cream Socials and STEAM Programs
Dr. Bombay & Boys & Girls Club - Pittsburgh ● Photo Credit: Happi Co. via PR Newswire
LONG BEACH, Calif., June 20, 2024 (ENTERTAINMENT INTERVIEWS) - Dr. Bombay, the ice cream brand founded by Snoop Dogg, has announced a partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs in Long Beach, Pittsburgh, and Portland. The collaboration will bring ice cream socials and educational programs to youth in these communities over the summer.
Starting today, Dr. Bombay will host an ice cream social at the Boys & Girls Club in Long Beach. Children participating in basketball activities will have the chance to enjoy Dr. Bombay's unique ice cream flavors, including the new Strawberry Cream Dream and Baked Blueberry Muffin. The event will be followed by a science lesson in the fall, conducted by Dr. Maya Warren, an ice cream expert. This lesson will form part of the club’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) curriculum, providing a comprehensive sensory experience that explores the science behind the taste, smell, texture, and flavor of ice cream. This initiative aims to eventually develop a broader consumer packaged goods (CPG) program demonstrating the integration of science, art, math, and technology in product creation.
Reflecting on his own experiences, Snoop Dogg stated, “The Boys & Girls Club in Long Beach at King Park is where I spent my summers playing sports and cutting up with my friends on the court. Ever since I was a kid, ice cream was a way to chill, relax and connect as family. I’m glad we can bring a little ice cream magic to the summer, as well as give them an opportunity to learn something new and fun.”
Two years ago, Snoop Dogg collaborated with Under Armour and Steph Curry to renovate the indoor gym at the club, incorporating design elements inspired by the park where Snoop and his wife spent their childhoods playing basketball. Currently, the Snoop Youth Basketball League, operating out of the club, offers no-cost advanced basketball training and supports youth participation in competitive travel tournaments.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach offer a robust summer program featuring a mix of sports, art, music, gardening, and field trips designed to combine learning with fun. These activities are intended to keep children engaged and help prevent summer learning loss while providing them with memorable experiences.
Dr. Bombay ice cream is available in major retailers across the country, including Walmart, Publix, Kroger, and many others. For a full list of locations, visit www.drbombaysnax.com.
Schedule of Events:
Pittsburgh: June 14 and June 17, 2024
Long Beach: June 20, 2024
Portland: August 12-14, 2024
Hollywood: July 2024
Source: Happi Co. via PR Newswire
Lizzo Kicks Off 5th Annual Juneteenth Giveback Highlighting Activists and Community Organizations
LOS ANGELES, June 19, 2024 (EntertainmentInterviews.com) - Multi-Grammy and Emmy award-winning artist Lizzo has announced the commencement of her fifth annual Juneteenth Giveback, an initiative dedicated to honoring the legacy of Juneteenth and promoting ongoing efforts toward freedom and equality. The event will include a series of impactful initiatives and conversations aimed at supporting Black-centered grassroots organizations and marginalized communities.
Lizzo’s Juneteenth Giveback, which began in 2020, has become an annual tradition that highlights community organizations and addresses systemic inequalities affecting Black women, LGBTQIA+ youth, and healthcare workers. This year’s theme focuses on the intersectionality of liberation, featuring conversations with activists and highlighting critical organizations.
"I'm so proud to announce the 5th year of my annual Juneteenth Giveback," said Lizzo. "Each year I aim to support and shine a light on the work of Black-centered grassroots organizations and movements. This year, we're talking about the Intersectionality of Liberation. We'll have uplifting conversations with incredible Black reproductive health activists, LGBTQ+ heroes, and the powerful women addressing the houseless crises, to promising young environmentalist leaders. We take the time to honor and thank these organizers who remind us that activism can be a life's work."
The 2024 Juneteenth Giveback will feature several key events:
June 19: Lizzo will host an “In Conversation” session with Kara James, a Planned Parenthood clinician, discussing the intersections of Black women's health, reproductive justice, and community health.
June 20: Lizzo will engage with Atlantis Narcisse, founder of Save Our Sisters United, Inc., and youth environmental activist Mari Copeny, also known as Little Miss Flint, in a discussion about their advocacy work and the importance of community involvement.
June 21: Lizzo will converse with Shirley Raines, CEO of Beauty 2 The Streetz, about providing support and resources to underserved communities. Additionally, Lizzo will provide an update on the "Sasha Be Flooting" Scholarship, which supports a student at the University of Houston Moores School of Music.
The event aims to highlight the work of several key figures:
Kara James: A nurse practitioner at Planned Parenthood, James founded the Planned Parenthood Black Health Initiative to focus on education, preventative care, and community support for Black women.
Atlantis Narcisse: Founder of Save Our Sisters United, Inc., Narcisse is committed to protecting and empowering Black Trans and Cis women and fostering unity.
Mari Copeny: Known as Little Miss Flint, Copeny is a 16-year-old environmental activist advocating for clean water since the Flint water crisis.
Shirley Raines: Founder and CEO of Beauty 2 The Streetz, a non-profit providing support to the homeless and offering services to restore self-worth and dignity.
University of Houston "Sasha Be Flooting" Scholarship: A $50,000 scholarship announced last year by Lizzo to support students at the University of Houston Moores School of Music.
For more information about the initiatives and to support the featured causes, visit lizzolovesyou.com.
Source: Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc. via PR Newswire