CITY, SCHOOLS RELY ON DISNEY FOR LOCAL HELP ALVORD: WE'D HATE TO LOSE GOOD BURBANK CONNECTION.

Byline: Alex Dobuzinskis Staff Writer

BURBANK - A bid by Philadelphia-based Comcast to take over The Walt Disney Co. could affect schools and organizations in Burbank that benefit from being so close to Disney's home base, local officials said Wednesday.

Officials who receive volunteers and funds from Disney said the company is a good corporate neighbor.

``The way it currently works, I can pick up the phone in my office, I can call someone here in Burbank or meet them for lunch,'' said Burbank City Manager Mary Alvord.

``And I sincerely hope that relationship doesn't change,'' Alvord said, adding that she would ``hate to lose the geographic connection of having them here in Burbank.''

Among the contributions Disney makes to Burbank are sending volunteers to work at the city's Starlight Bowl. The company makes a bigger contribution to Burbank schools, sending volunteers every week to tutor second-graders at William McKinley Elementary and other schools.

``I know that they have this mission to work with the community. I hope they wouldn't lose that,'' Principal Sue Holliday said.

Disney is a sponsor of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Burbank's annual fund-raiser, said Executive Director Alex Fey. The organization also receives volunteer help, and a company representative sits on the organization's board of directors.

But Fey said he is not concerned about the possible Disney takeover by Comcast Cable Communications Inc.

``I have no reason to be concerned. I would expect Disney to continue their community support,'' Fey said, adding ``that's the culture of The Walt Disney Co.''

Disney helps organizations throughout the country, not only those in Burbank or Glendale. Among the organizations the company supports are Habitat for Humanity and the American Red Cross.

But Disney's volunteer program has employees spend time in the communities where they live, and Disney sends 70 employees to local schools every week, according to the company.

At McKinley Elementary, about 18 employees come every Thursday, Holliday said.

``They come in with this sort of joyful spirit ... they're always upbeat and happy to be here,'' she said.

The Disney Studios also hosts the graduation ceremony for Monterey High School, an alternative high school in the Burbank Unified School District, and the company provides two scholarships for Monterey students to get a postsecondary education, said Goldie Bemel, director of partnerships for the district. Disney employees also teach Burbank and Glendale students about working in the entertainment industry in a yearly event.

The BUSD also has an elementary school named after company founder Walt Disney.

The Glendale Unified School District also gets volunteer help and other assistance from Disney, said Vic Pallos, a spokesman for the district.

``It would be a tragedy to lose a company the quality of Disney for all that they have done for these communities,'' Pallos said.

Alex Dobuzinskis, [phone]

alex.dobuzinskis(at)dailynews.com