The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into live-action film production, television, and travel. Taking on its current name in 1986, The Walt Disney Company expanded its existing operations and also started divisions focused upon theatre, radio, publishing, and online media. In addition, it has created new divisions of the company in order to market more mature content than it typically associates with its flagship family-oriented brands.
The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books is the largest literary and lifestyle festival in North America, with over 153,000 attendees and growing. The two day Festival is held in conjunction with the University of Southern California at the USC Campus. In its 24rd year in 2019, the Festival of Books is a cultural and civic jewel of the L.A. community, and is completely free to attendees and features hundreds of visiting celebrity authors and a packed schedule of indoor author Conversations and stage presentations. The event features nine themed zones (Arts & Culture, Culinary, Family & Children, Young Adult, HERO, Word, Comedy, Hoy Latino Neighborhood, and Newstory- an entire zone dedicated to emerging forms of storytelling from AR to VR, Podcasting, Film, TV, gaming, music and more), each with its own dedicated programming, exhibitors and sponsors. The 2019 event will partner with Access Books for in support of childhood literacy efforts, with a goal of raising $100,000 to transform four school libraries. All donations will be matched up to $100,000. Past participants have included Malcolm Gladwell, Patton Oswalt, Arianna Huffington, Carrie Brownstein, Billy Idol, Tavis Smiley, Stan Lee, Ludo Lefebvre, T.C. Boyle, Tommy Lasorda, Brian Grazer, Levar Burton, Jason Segal, Jon Cryer, Candice Bergen, Joyce Carol Oates, Brain Cranston, Tye Diggs, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Cesar Milan, Giada De Laurentiis, Jet Tila, Congressman John Lewis, and hundreds more... Past sponsors include Pacific Sales, Medium, Target, Acura, Chevrolet, Buick, Toyota, Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Princess Cruises, Kind Bars, Dr. Pepper/Snapple Group, Ben & Jerry’s, Alaska Airlines, McDonalds, Netflix, Starbucks, 24 Hour Fitness, State Farm Insurance and many more. Sponsorships are available in all categories, including the automotive category with ride and drive capabilities. .