NEED TO KNOW
Disneyland-themed license plates may soon be available for drivers in California
Pending approval from the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles, the initiative will raise money for 13 children’s hospitals
The plates are set to cost $50 for sequential or $103 for personalized
California drivers may soon have access to Disneyland-themed license plates.
On Tuesday, May 5, the California State Treasurer’s Office announced, via press release, a new collaboration with Disneyland Resort, the California Children’s Hospital Association (CCHA) and the California Health Facilities Financing Authority (CHFFA) “to raise funds for children’s hospitals across the state through sales of a Disneyland-themed specialized license plate.”
The initiative is pending approval from the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. Before it can go ahead, the treasurer’s office needs to submit an application, approve a design and receive 7,500 preorders.
If successful, the license plates would join the department’s Special License Plate Program, which currently includes designs for breast cancer awareness, California museums — with an image of Snoopy — and veterans’ organizations.
A photo of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Credit: ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty
“Walt Disney was dedicated to bringing the magic of Disney to children’s hospitals, and we are honored to carry that legacy forward,” Disneyland Resort president Jill Estorino said in a statement. “By deepening our support for children’s hospitals right here in California, we are reinforcing Walt’s promise to deliver moments of joy, comfort and inspiration to kids when they need it most.”
Those interested in the license plates would have to pay $50 for sequential or $103 for personalized plates, per the release. The annual fee to renew would be $40 or $83, respectively, on top of registration fees.
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Funds raised by the initiative would go toward 13 general acute care children’s hospitals, which care for patients with conditions including cancer, congenital heart disease and cystic fibrosis, throughout the state. The treasurer’s office said that it aims to support “essential but uncompensated” services and programs, including personnel and education costs and services that “support children’s care, recovery and wellbeing.”
Ann-Louise Kuhns, the president and CEO of CCHA, said in a statement that “we’re grateful to CHFFA and Disneyland for this initiative, which will support children and families going through some of their toughest moments and help these children get back to the most important job of all: being kids.”
Treasurer Fiona Ma, the chair of CHFFA, added: “In this time when Californians are struggling to get access to care, we are thrilled to help unlock new funding to help expand care, improve health outcomes, and promote the well-being of children with serious and complex medical needs.”
“We look forward to advancing this application, revealing the design, and launching preorders in the months ahead,” Ma continued.
The CHFFA has launched a website for more information about the design and opportunities to pre-order.
Read the original article on People