Disney to donate $5 million to rebuild Notre Dame

The Walt Disney Co. will donate $5 million to help restore Notre Dame after the iconic cathedral was severely damaged by a fire Monday, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

“Notre Dame is a beacon of hope and beauty that has defined the heart of Paris and the soul of France for centuries, inspiring awe and reverence for its art and architecture and for its enduring place in human history,” CEO Bob Iger said in a statement. “The Walt Disney Company stands with our friends and neighbors in the community, offering our heartfelt support as well as a $5 million donation for the restoration of this irreplaceable masterpiece.”

The company produced an animated musical loosely adapted from Victor Hugo’s novel “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” in 1996. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) appeared to poke fun at the announcement on Twitter Wednesday.

Wonderful! Will we see Disney princesses in the new stained glass? https://t.co/al6W7bvFyb

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) April 17, 2019

The fire Monday collapsed the cathedral’s roof and spire, but its organ and rose windows were spared by the blaze. About $1 billion in donations have already poured in since the fire. French President Emmanuel Macron has set a target date of reopening the cathedral in the next five years.