Rock Wins Make-A-Wish Award!



Courtesy: TheRock.com

The World Wrestling Federation and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America have a relationship that dates back several years. The Federation helps raise money for the Foundation, and WWF Superstars meet with Make-A-Wish children before virtually every live event.

As one of the most popular Federation Superstars -- not to mention celebrities overall -- The Rock is also one of the most requested by Make-A-Wish children. Each year, dozens of children get to meet the People's Champion.

The Rock has perhaps the most hectic schedule in the Federation, but he still makes time to meet with children. Because of this, the "Great One" has been awarded the Chris Greicius Award for Celebrity Wish Granter of the Year by the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Here is an excerpt from the letter that World Wrestling Federation officials received from Paula Van Ness, president and CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America: Each year the Make-A-Wish Foundation honors members of the celebrity community who have generously given a little of their time and a lot of their heart to help make wishes come true for children with life-threatening illnesses.

The Rock has graciously and enthusiastically granted the fondest wishes of many Make-A-Wish children who want nothing more than to meet him -- children like 16-year-old Jesus, who is battling congenital heart failure. When The Rock learned that Jesus has 11 family members, he insisted that the entire group be included in the wish. The entire experience was thrilling for Jesus, and it is a memory he and his entire family will treasure forever.

Because The Rock has gone above and beyond to make dreams come true for some of his youngest fans with life-threatening illnesses, I am extremely pleased to invite him to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America's annual recognition program, to receive the 2000 Chris Greicius Award for Celebrity Wish Granter of the Year. Chris Greicius is the child who inspired the creation of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. In 1980, his greatest wish to become a police officer was fulfilled, and his experience inspired his family and friends to create the Make-A-Wish Foundation in his memory. This year, the Make-A-Wish Foundation will grant its 80,000th wish.

The recognition program -- this year titled "Celebrating 20 Years of Wishes" -- is a celebration in honor of corporations, sponsors and celebrity friends without whom our work would not be accomplished. Former recipients of this award, established in 1990, include John Travolta, the Backstreet Boys, Scott Hamilton, David Hasselhoff, Ken Griffey Jr., Kristi Yamaguchi, and "Blue's Clues" stars Steve Burns.