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As society changes with the times, it seems the definition of volunteering changes as well. We now live in a world where volunteering means performing a service willingly, as long as some form of payment is involved.

As of Jan. 1, Disney began distributing a million free tickets to residents who complete a specified volunteer project or opportunity in their area. The program, "Give A Day, Get A Disney Day," is sponsored in part by the HandsOn Network in association with 70,000 nonprofit organizations nationwide.

In theory, Walt Disney is doing society a remarkable service by gathering more than 600,000 people to volunteer just two months into the program, but the truth is this program isn't about volunteering at all. How many soup kitchens are run by citizens who are expecting some sort of collateral in return? Do churches have food drives just so they can sell the food they have been given?

When did we become a society where the incentive to volunteer is not the inherent good that you feel after helping others? This is setting an unfortunate precedent that will leave those involved wondering what kind of payment will await their next good deed.

In a recent report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only one of every four Americans volunteered between September of 2008 and 2009. That number was even lower for most of the younger population. According to the report, "Volunteer rates were lowest among persons in their early twenties (18.8 percent) and those age 65 and over (23.9 percent)."

It will be interesting to see whether the bureau decides to include work done in partnership with Disney in their next report, when it is clearly stated, "Volunteers are defined as persons who did unpaid work through or for an organization."

According to the program's official Web site, its goal is simply to celebrate and inspire volunteerism. That goal might never be reached. James Cash Penney, founder of the ever popular J.C. Penney Stores, once said, "How can we expect our children to know and experience the joy of giving unless we teach them that the greater pleasure in life lies in the art of giving, rather than receiving."

If only Disney considered this lesson before starting a well-intentioned, but poorly conceived program. They are imbedding the idea in the minds of young and old alike that the days of true volunteering are over.

Imagine if Disney had chosen to donate money to charities instead of giving away free tickets. Consider the fact that it would actually cost each one of their volunteers $79 before tax to attend just one of their parks. Disney could have donated $790 million to charities, three-quarters of a billion dollars.

Perhaps there was sound reason to conduct the program the way they have. Maybe the money they receive from each of their volunteers before and after they enter the park is the incentive. Parking at any one of Disney's theme parks costs at least $14 per car. Then consider the cost of dining at any of the in-park restaurants, along with all those tourists' souvenirs. Everything is beginning to make more "cents" now.

Some clarification should be offered from those in charge of the program. Although it seems great from the outside, the closer the examination, the more doubt and cynicism arises.

Is Disney receiving a tax-break on every ticket given away? If so, that might have been even more of an incentive than just donating money to charities. If that's the case, not only are they changing how we view volunteering, they also are profiting from this misrepresentation.

Trying to get citizens excited about helping the community is a wonderful endeavor, but this program generates such enthusiasm the wrong way entirely. Must we get paid to make life better for those around us? America is better than that, and the people of this country are better than that. Let's just hope Disney can prove they are as well.

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