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‘Shark Tank’ Investor Daymond John Makes Dream Come True for Teen During Disney Dreamers Academy

Denise ,  ,  , 

Hi everyone!

Shark Tank investor Daymond John made a dream come true for a student during the Disney Dreamers Academy at Walt Disney World. The teen received a personal invitation to join John on the set for a taping of “Shark Tank”.

Read below for all the details from Walt Disney World!

ABC TV series ‘Shark Tank,’ star Daymond John surprises TeLario Watkins (Blacklick, Ohio) during the Disney Dreamers Academy at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. on April 6, 2024. John presented Watkins with a personal invitation to Los Angeles, Calif. to watch a taping of ‘Shark Tank.’ (Mark Ashman, photographer)

ABC’s ‘Shark Tank’ investor and successful businessman Daymond John left an aspiring young entrepreneur speechless when he surprised the student Saturday during Disney Dreamers Academy at Walt Disney World Resort with a personal invitation to join him on the set for a taping of ‘Shark Tank.’
 
Te’Lario Watkins II, 16, from Blacklick, OH, thought he was in the middle of a media interview Saturday morning during Disney Dreamers Academy when John made a surprise appearance and delivered the personal invitation to visit the ABC show set in Los Angeles. For Watkins, it was a magical dream come true moment.

ABC TV series ‘Shark Tank,’ star Daymond John surprises TeLario Watkins (Blacklick, Ohio) during the Disney Dreamers Academy at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. on April 6, 2024. John presented Watkins with a personal invitation to Los Angeles, Calif. to watch a taping of ‘Shark Tank.’ (Mark Ashman, photographer)

Since he was 7 years old, Watkins has run his own small business, Tiger Mushroom Farms, which cultivates gourmet mushrooms and sells dry mushroom products. Additionally, he is the founder of a non-profit called the Garden Club Project, which addresses food insecurities in his community.
 
John is one of several celebrities taking part in Disney Dreamers Academy, the Walt Disney World Resort mentoring program that runs through Sunday. Olympian Sanya Richards-Ross, Hollywood veteran actor Lance Gross, Disney actress Dara Renee and other TV and movie stars are serving as mentors and speakers.

ABC TV series ‘Shark Tank,’ star Daymond John surprises TeLario Watkins (Blacklick, Ohio) during the Disney Dreamers Academy at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. on April 6, 2024. John presented Watkins with a personal invitation to Los Angeles, Calif. to watch a taping of ‘Shark Tank.’ (Mark Ashman, photographer)

This is the 17th year of Disney Dreamers Academy, a five-day event designed to broaden career awareness and create opportunities for 100 Black high school students and teens from underrepresented communities across America.
 
WHEN: Saturday, April 6, 2024
 
WHERE: Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Fla. 
 
DETAILS: The 100 students are selected from thousands of nationwide applicants for a once-in-a-lifetime mentoring program at Walt Disney World Resort. The program, supported by sponsors AT&T, Sprite and Delta Airlines, is designed to assist young people in identifying and pursuing their dreams. Along with a parent or guardian, the students receive an all-expense-paid trip to Walt Disney World to participate in the program, which features career-oriented workshops, leadership seminars and presentations by celebrity guests, community leaders, educators and Disney executives.