A pair of Disney teen movie stars stepped out the spotlight and into the sunlight to join a Far Rockaway Beach clean-up on July 14.
Ross Lynch and Maia Mitchell, who play surfing lovers Brady and McKenzie in the upcoming Disney Channel flick “Teen Beach Movie,” mixed and mingled with about 45 volunteers and helped tidy up the beach and repair damage done by Sandy.
“It’s really, really cool to give back to the community,” Lynch said. “And also it’s nice to meet everyone who is cleaning up the beach.”
The clean-up was a part of a global Disney volunteering initiative in conjunction with Verizon employees. Teams from both companies and their children picked up garbage, painted rusted railings and, together with the teen stars, applied mulch to prevent weed growth and stabilize the soil for new plants.
“For us to be able to come out with our families and volunteer as a unit, it’s really important,” said Adrienne White, a manager of the volunteer group at Disney. “We know that by doing that it inspires our young kids to become lifelong volunteers and contributors.”
In their surf-rock musical movie, Mitchell and Lynch battle bikers for control of a beach hangout. They spontaneously break out in song and dance throughout the film. The stars said while learning their roles, they were taught about the importance of the beach ecosystem. They were blown away by the beauty of Rockaway Beach.
“It was great to see [Rockaway Beach] and see a new part of New York,” Mitchell said. “I’ve never been here and it looks beautiful.”
“Teen Beach Movie” will premiere on Friday, July 19 at 8 p.m. on the Disney Channel.
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