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Few people touch the lives of as many people as Jeff. He is the man
behind the Disney Legends Awards and in his position as Vice President,
Disney Worldwide Outreach, he helps to enrich the lives of those in need
around the world.
He is kind, generous, and a uniquely special person and I am so grateful
to Jeff for taking the time for this interview.
SW: Were you a Disney fan before working for Disney?
Jeff Hoffman: Yes. Growing up in Long Beach California, I had an
opportunity to visit Disneyland regularly. Also I enjoyed watching the
Wonderful World of Disney on Sunday nights. Both my first visit
to Disneyland and my first Disney movie experience, Mary Poppins,
took place when I was 4 years old. As a Christmas gift for my 11th
birthday, I received a share of Disney Stock!!
 SW:
How did you get your start with Disney?
JH: I started at Disneyland after high school graduation. My role was a
merchandise host in Adventureland. I sold rubber snakes and shrunken
heads.
SW: Was it your aspiration to move up in the company?
JH: Absolutely. I had always wanted to work at Disney. My plan was to
continue to work at Disney after I graduated from USC (I earned a degree
in Public Relations with an emphasis on the entertainment Industry).
SW: How did you get from Disneyland to working at The Disney
University, and for those who don’t know, what is the Disneyland
University?
JH: While I was at Disneyland, I was very involved. I was on the Cast
Activities Advisory Board, an area reporter for the Disneyland Line and
I gave tours of the Studio and WED (now Walt Disney Imagineering) for
Disneyland Cast Members every Tuesday as part of a Cast Enrichment
program. As a result of my weekly trips to the Studio, I got to know the
staff at the University.
One Tuesday I was there and I was asked if I was interested in a job. I
said “yes!” That day I had three interviews and by the end of the week
they called and said “come on up to Burbank!” The Disney University is
part of Corporate Human Resources and was structured at the time to
include Training and Development, Internal Communications, Employee
Activities and Services.
SW: What is your current position with Disney and how did you get to
that position?
JH:
 When
I was in The Disney University, part of Corporate Human Resources, I was
responsible for all Cast Community Programs. This included Disney
VoluntEARS. I was responsible for taking the Disney VoluntEARS program
global in the early 90s. As a result, I worked very closely with the
various community relations teams around the world.
In February of 2001, I was asked to help start Disney Worldwide
Outreach. Our mission was to bring together all of Disney’s charitable
initiatives, community relations and VoluntEARism under one umbrella.
Today, I am the Vice President of DWO and report to the Senior Vice
President of Corporate Responsibility for The Walt Disney Company.
SW: What types of things do you do in your job?
JH: I have a global team and much of what I do is setting the strategy
for Disney’s outreach. I work with our various departments and teams
within DWO on our initiatives as well as with Disney lines of
businesses, global and national charities, non-profits and some
government agencies. My travels have taken me to every Disney Resort
plus other trips to India, China, United Kingdom and many other places
around the world and throughout the US in an effort to expand and unify
our charitable component and strategy.
SW: Does Disney profit in any way from Disney Worldwide Outreach?
JH: Disney does not directly profit from our activities, but we feel a
responsibility to give back. Disney strives to be a good corporate
citizen, a neighbor of choice where we operate and an admired company.
We believe in giving back and utilizing our core competencies to help
brighten the lives of children and families around the world when they
need it most. We do a lot of work with children’s hospitals, wish
granting, reading programs and environmental initiatives.
In addition to all of that, through the generosity of our cast members,
our Disney VoluntEARS contribute nearly a half a million hours of
service annually. Everyday, somewhere around the world, our VoluntEARS
are reading to children, planting trees, assisting children with special
needs and so many more worthwhile endeavors.
SW: Do you have any favorite memories of working for Disney?
JH: This is always such a difficult question. I am so fortunate to have
worked with many, wonderful people, many of them who worked directly
with Walt and Roy. I have traveled the world, worked to honor and
preserve our rich heritage, helped children in need and continue to help
contribute to making the world a better place. It all adds up to an
amazing career with an amazing company!
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