DISNEY FRIENDS FOR CHANGE AMBASSADORS ZENDAYA AND BELLA THORNE SPOTLIGHT YOUTH LEADERS IN INTERSTITIALS PREMIERING FRIDAY, AUGUST 17 ON DISNEY CHANNEL

Disney Channel will present new interstitials featuring Bella Thorne and Zendaya, Disney Friends for Change Ambassadors and stars of the hit series "Shake It Up," as they learn techniques to inspire positive leadership and take a stand against bullying at the Free the Children Leadership Academy. The interstitials will be presented in rotation beginning FRIDAY, AUGUST 17 on Disney Channel.

Over the course of three days, Zendaya and Bella participated in a series of workshops designed to give youth leaders a deeper understanding of their leadership styles and empower them to walk away, knowing that they have the power, through their actions, to change the world. Each of the participants will be responsible for training an additional 20 youth in their community with the same skills, ultimately impacting 1,200 youth across the country.

To coincide with the on-air interstitials, Disney Friends for Change will offer tools and resources at www.disney.com/friends, where kids and families can discover additional ideas on how to make a difference by learning about different cultures, starting a club with new friends and sharing positive messages.

As part of the initiative, kids and families are encouraged to make a pledge and help Disney reach a goal of 1 million positive actions taken to address bullying and promote leadership. Site visitors are able to download action kits, learn more about the Ambassadors' campaigns, and participate in the new Shout Out Module, an online forum that allows kids and families to motivate each other and exchange tips on actions to help their schools and neighborhoods. Families can also vote online to further support each Ambassador's campaign and help thousands of more kids as a result.

About Disney Friends for Change

Disney Friends for Change is a global initiative that inspires kids and their families to make a lasting, positive change by helping people, communities and the planet. Through on-air interstitials, online action kits and over $5 million in grants to support projects in neighborhoods around the world, Friends for Change provides useful resources to encourage kids and families to take action and make a difference. To date, Friends for Change kids in fifty-five countries around the world have taken almost five million actions.