Volunteers are crucial to the success of Friends for Life (FFL) conferences. CWD relies on a team of around 180 full-time volunteers to make FFL Orlando happen each year. We are always seeking enthusiastic, dedicated individuals to join our team of volunteers and fill a range of roles at each conference.

Please review the following information about volunteering at FFL Orlando and then complete the application form below.  

Volunteer roles 

There are a variety of volunteer roles at FFL Orlando. Be sure to read the job descriptions before applying so you are aware of the tasks and responsibilities that will be required.  

• Youth program volunteers (full-time) work with children in the Kiddie Kove, Elementary, Tween, Teen, and Sports Central programs.
• Conference support volunteers (full-time) support general conference needs as part of the Smiley Squad Team, Sunflower Team, Tech Team, Exhibit Hall Team, and FFL Support Team.
• Part-time volunteers help as needed during the conference, generally in response to one-off requests sent by the CWD team to support activities such as banquet/event setup. These part-time opportunities do not require a volunteer application. Requests for volunteer help are emailed to registered attendees closer to the conference (and sometimes during the conference), so please keep an eye on your email if you are interested in helping part-time.

Full-time volunteer expectations 

Volunteers applying for full-time roles agree to be available during all assigned conference training and programming at FFL from Tuesday morning to Friday afternoon, with no exceptions. Our Team Leaders carefully staff their teams to ensure they can safely and effectively fulfill their roles, and they rely on having a complete team to meet that goal. Volunteers are required to complete approximately one hour of digital training before arriving at FFL Orlando.  All volunteers are also required to complete a background check (coordinated and paid for by CWD) before volunteering at FFL Orlando.

Compensation for volunteers 

All volunteer roles for FFL Orlando are unpaid positions. For full-time volunteers, CWD covers the individual conference registration fee, which includes all meals included as part of the conference. CWD also covers one hotel room at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort for the duration of the conference. Please keep in mind that CWD does not cover conference registration fees or additional hotel rooms for family members of volunteers. 

Volunteer selection process 

All volunteers must apply for their desired volunteer role(s) using the application form below. Please put some thought into your application and be sure to highlight your qualifications and why you are interested in volunteering with CWD! The deadline for completing an application to volunteer at the FFL Orlando 2025 conference is October 31, 2024.

After the application window has closed, CWD staff and Team Leads for each team will review the applications received and build their teams for the next year. All applicants will be notified of volunteer staffing decisions by email on a rolling basis in February 2025.

Friends for Life Anaheim 

October 25-27, 2024

    Use this application to apply for a Scholarship for Friends for Life Anaheim 2024. For this application, at least one attendee in your party should have type 1 diabetes, and you must live in the state of California, Arizona, or Nevada.

    This Friends for Life Anaheim 2024 Scholarship can include:
 

• One hotel room at the Disneyland Hotel (accommodating up to four people in the room) for two (2) nights (arrive Friday, depart Sunday), and
• Conference registration for up to four (4) people. 

Transportation expenses, including any parking expenses, are not included. Costs for additional people and other expenses are the responsibility of the recipient.

  Attendees will also be responsible for any meals not included in the conference. This will include dinner each night, breakfast, and lunch on Friday. 

Recipients must be willing and able to provide a personal payment method at check-in for any incidental charges. The hotel may put a hold on this card that will drop off after check-out. Please prepare accordingly.

Financial Need
   Financial need is a component of prioritizing this support, so you are permitted to submit financial information demonstrating the need. Our scholarship program is designed for individuals and families who would otherwise be unable to attend FFL without our support. Please note that if you have already paid and registered for the conference, you will automatically be declined a scholarship. 

Before You Begin
   Before you begin your application, please gather the following items. You may need all of these to complete your application.

 

• Digital copy of your 2023 Federal Tax Return (most commonly Form 1040) (Optional)
• Digital copy of your most recent W2 (one for each working parent or adult) (Optional)
  
  
  This scholarship is available to US citizens and legal residents of CA, AZ, and NV only.