Fresno Police, community help send 90 kids to Disneyland

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A group of six graders from Southeast Fresno spent Friday at the happiest place on earth.

The 90 Students and 10 teachers of Olmos Elementary School went to Disneyland. Teachers say the school and students raised a good amount of money for the expenses but help from the Fresno Police Department and the community made the difference.

To help, 11 Fresno Police officers went along for the trip to Disneyland with the kids. They say they're just doing their job of creating a safe and free environment.

"You talk to the kids you talk to the teachers, some of these kids don't dream," Lt. Mark Salazar with the Fresno Police Department said. "Some of these kids don't believe they can ever go to Disneyland, have never been to Disneyland, and so when you look at the neighborhood they live in."

"It's a challenged neighborhood. We're constantly engaged in the issues here with gang issues and violent crime and property crime but you know what? These kids deserve to be there and our goal is to have this school and these kids feel safe while they're here."

The students have been at Disneyland since about 9 a.m. and aren't expected home until about 3 p.m. Saturday.

Disney is the parent company of ABC30.