The following press release was issued today by World Wrestling Entertainment and the Make-A-Wish Foundation…
World Wrestling Entertainment(R) Makes Multi-Year Commitment to Make-A-Wish Foundation(R) for Granting Kids’ Wishes
PHOENIX, Feb 26, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) — World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is strengthening its 20-year dedication to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America and granting the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions with a new multi-year agreement announced Tuesday during a joint press conference at US Airways Center.
The partnership’s first act under the new sponsorship commitment will be to hold the WWE(R)’s biggest wish-granting event ever at WrestleMania XXIV on March 30 in Orlando, Fla.WWE and the Make-A-Wish Foundation will grant the wishes of more than 50 children during the course of the next five weeks, culminating in a star-filled experience hosted by WWE in Orlando during the weekend of WrestleMania XXIV. The children will meet their favorite WWE Superstars while participating in a weekend full of activities, including events at Universal Orlando(R) Resort, being officially inducted into the WWE Make-A-Wish “Circle of Champions” at the annual Bacon, Bagels and Biceps brunch sponsored by the David Mauss Foundation, which will make a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and Northern Florida, and attending WrestleMania.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation also recognized WWE Superstar John Cena with an award to celebrate his 100th wish granted to a Make-A-Wish(R) child. Modern-day superstars such as Cena and Rey Mysterio now carry the torch for WWE in its wish granting, following in the bighearted footsteps of past WWE Superstars such as Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock.
WWE long has been one of the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s most enthusiastic wish granters, fulfilling hundreds of wishes in the past 20 years. In 2004, the Foundation paid tribute to WWE with its Chris Greicius Celebrity Award, which recognizes organizations and individuals from the entertainment and sports worlds for their inspirational wish-granting activities. Jesse Ventura (1991), Hogan (1994), Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (2000) and WWE executive Sue Aitchison (2006) also have received the Chris Greicius Celebrity Award.
“WWE has been creating incredible wish experiences and providing in-kind support to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for the past two decades, and we’re honored to bring our relationship to a new level through this generous donation,” said David Williams, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America president and chief executive officer. “We’re also delighted to join with WWE to grant 50 kids’ wishes on the road to WrestleMania. It symbolizes the Foundation’s devotion to making wishes happen for children with life-threatening medical conditions in all 50 states.”
“For more than 20 years, WWE has had the honor to work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to grant wishes to children, and now we’re taking that relationship to a new level,” said Vince McMahon, WWE Chairman. “There’s no better stage than WrestleMania to hold the WWE’s biggest wish event ever with the world’s pre-eminent children’s wish-granting organization.”
About the Make-A-Wish Foundation
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Born in 1980 when a group of caring volunteers helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 67 chapters in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and more than 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants a wish every 40 minutes and has granted more than 161,000 wishes in the U.S. since inception. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit www.wish.org and discover how you can share the power of a wish(R).
About World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) is an integrated media and entertainment company headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto and London. Additional information on the company can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.
Trademarks: All World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, and logos are the exclusive property of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ECW is a trademark of WWE Libraries, Inc. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.
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