Thanks to Make-A-Wish, aspiring animator EJ got to tour Walt Disney Studios and meet his hero, Eric Goldberg.

“What I love most [about animation] is how we can use art to communicate feelings to others, how we can make people cry, how we can make people laugh, how it has a way to connect with people,” 16-year-old EJ said.

His story was highlighted on Good Morning America as part of Disney’s annual celebration of their Make-A-Wish partnership during Disney Week of Wishes.

EJ and his family were first surprised by Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro outside the Roy E. Disney Animation Building. D’Amaro then led EJ inside to a warm welcome from cast members and introduced him to Goldberg, a Disney Legend known for animating Genie.

EJ got to sit down for a lesson with Goldberg, who said, “He draws beautifully. He already knows so much about how to draw the characters and their history.”

“I’m like a kid in a candy store,” EJ said. “I get to learn from these great artists. And I can use these skills when further developing my story and animation. And I will get here someday.”

D’Amaro said, “Disney spreading joy when it’s needed most, that’s always been part of our DNA, it’s been part of our DNA since the very beginning, and we’ve been doing it for over 40 years. And then just on a personal level, this is something—it hits home for me. I’m a Make-A-Wish board member and also an uncle of a niece who is a Make-A-Wish child. I’ve seen first hand how powerful a wish can be.

See EJ’s story on Good Morning America below.

Disney Week of Wishes is April 25 to May 1. Disney and Make-A-Wish have been partners since 1980 and have granted wishes for over 175,000 children. Disney is the largest wish-granter for the organization, “granting a wish every hour of the day,” according to Make-A-Wish.

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