“Why? Because It’s Christmas” is an album reuniting Mouseketeers from The Mickey Mouse Club in support of MusiCares® And The Brave Of Heart Fund On Music For COVID-19 Relief. Today they’ve announced that proceeds will also be going to non-profit organization the Cast Member Pantry, which provides groceries to furloughed and laid off Disney employees.
The non-profit was founded by Disney cast member Emily Lartigue in response to the now over 28,000 employees of Disney’s theme parks whose lives were disrupted by the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic to the worldwide economy. The organization provides monthly food essentials to members within the Cast Member family who are in need. In a partnership with Always In The Club and its MMC’89 Initiative, the reunited Mouseketeers are donating a portion of the gross proceeds from the upcoming holiday album, set for a November 27 release, and virtual release party on the same day, to the Cast Member Pantry. Several of the Mouseketeers will also be volunteering in support of the Cast Member Pantry’s efforts in Florida and California.
“The recent COVID related layoffs have been excruciating for our MMC family,” says Chasen Hampton (Mouseketeer, Always In The Club/MMC’89). “Our beloved magic makers are at the heart of any memory ever made in the place we all call home. The amount of smiles they’ve created, memories they’ve made and dreams they’ve granted… that’s forever, and we couldn’t be more proud to call them family.”
“The Pantry is stepping up in an extraordinary way to help our fellow Cast members during this very difficult time. We feel that once a Cast member, always a Cast member, so we couldn’t be more proud to help them in any way that we can.” – Dale Godboldo (Mouseketeer, Founder, Always In The Club/MMC’89)
“We are so thankful for this partnership, lots of exciting things coming from this group! They are so eager to help us serve the Cast Member community.” – Cast Member Pantry
Why? Because It’s Christmas features holiday classics by En Vogue’s Rhona Bennett, The Voice’s Tony Lucca, The People v. OJ Simpson’s Dale Godboldo, and Hollywood Record’s The Party group members Deedee Magno Hall and Chasen Hampton. In all, 17 Mouseketeers have reunited for the album that also includes tracks from Nikki DeLoach (Hallmark Channel, MTV’s Awkward), Tasha Danner(Portlandia), David Kater (Miss Saigon, Gnome Alone), Jennifer McGill, Lindsey Alley, Jason “Blain” Carson, Mylin Brooks-Stoddard, Raquel “Roque” Herring, Nita Young, Jason Minor, TJ Fantini, and Marc Worden (Voice of Iron Man/Tony Stark,Star Trek: TNG).
In addition to Cast Member Pantry, it was previously announced last month that gross proceeds from the album and virtual event will also support MusiCares, a charity founded by the Recording Academy for music people in times of need, and The Brave Of Heart Fund that provides financial assistance to the families of healthcare workers who lose their lives to COVID-19.
The album will be released on November 27 but you can preview the album and learn more about it at MMCHolidays.com. Watch the teaser for the album below.