WWE and the Community
WWE In Your Corner
WWE has a strong philosophy to give back to the communities and children whom we touch. "WWE In Your Corner" is WWE's charitable arm that focuses on the company's anti-bullying campaign, literacy programs, civic engagement, military support and 26-plus year partnership with The Make-A-Wish Foundation.
be a STAR Anti-Bullying Campaign
WWE is strictly entertainment and our storylines are centered around good vs. evil, where conflicts are resolved in the ring. This is not how WWE talent, nor WWE as a company, deal with differences in real life. One should deal with differences by showing tolerance and respect. WWE is committed to sharing an anti-bullying message to show our fans how to resolve conflicts in the real world.
be a STAR (Show Tolerance And Respect) is a multi-platform, global anti-bullying initiative that launched in April 2011 in conjunction with The Creative Coalition. Currently, be a STAR has 48 alliance partners including the National Education Association Health Information Network (NEA HIN), GLAAD, United Federation of Teachers, Scholastic, Inc., and Stomp Out Bullying to name a few.
The mission of be a STAR is to ensure a positive and equitable social environment for everyone regardless of age, race, religion or sexual orientation. be a STAR promotes positive methods of social interaction and encourages people to treat others as equals and with respect because everyone is a star in their own right.
In April 2011, the alliance unveiled a free anti-bullying educator's resource guide created by NEA HIN. The guide aligns with national education standards to complement curriculums, and consists of nine lesson plans centered around courage, responsibility, dignity, friendship, advocacy, resiliency, empathy, identity, and morality.
To Learn more about be a STAR please click on the following link: www.beastaralliance.org
Circle of Champions
WWE's Circle of Champions grants the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses who desire to meet their favorite WWE Superstars and Divas. Since 1982, WWE Superstars have conducted more than 5,000 meet-and-greet sessions with sick children in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, Spain, Germany and Australia. WWE grants in excess of 270 wishes a year to children around the world.
In 2010, WWE granted more than 200 wishes in nine countries through various wish organizations including The Make-A-Wish Foundation, Starlight Children's Foundation, Kid's Wish Network, the Rainbow Connection, Sunshine Foundation of Canada and A Wish with Wings in North America and internationally for Dreams Come True, Rays of Sunshine the Willow Foundation and Starlight. Each child that meets a WWE Superstar receives a certificate that distinguishes them as a member of this elite group.
In December 2010, WWE Superstar John Cena granted his 200th wish through The Make-A-Wish Foundation making him only one of four celebrities to have accomplished this achievement.
In April 2011, WWE brought 40 wish children from around the world to Atlanta, Georgia to have their wishes granted by John Cena at the fourth annual WrestleMania Make-A-Wish Pizza Party. This tradition began in 2008 when WWE invited 50 wish children to WrestleMania in Orlando to be personally inducted into the "Circle of Champions" by John Cena.
Learn more about Circle of Champions >>
Muscular Dystrophy Association
In August 2010, WWE and the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) joined forces to launch MDA's "Make A Muscle, Make a Difference" campaign at WWE's SummerSlam kick-off party. The event raised awareness for muscle diseases and featured members of MDA's celebrity muscle team such as WWE Superstar Triple H, Nancy O'Dell, Alison Sweeney and others.
WWE continues to support MDA with PSAs and appearances. Most recently, WWE Legend Sgt. Slaughter has appeared at regional "Make A Muscle, Make a Difference" fundraising events in cities such as Boston, Charlotte and Milwaukee for the campaign.
WrestleMania Reading Challenge
WWE and the American Library Association's Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) sponsor the WrestleMania Reading Challenge to encourage teens and tweens to read more often. In 2010-2011, The Challenge culminated at the national WrestleMania Reading Challenge Final the weekend of WrestleMania XXVII in Atlanta, Georgia. Three champions from grades 5-6, 7-8, and 9-12 were named World Champions. More than 1,800 libraries and 50,000 young people from the U.S. and Canada participated. A similar Challenge was also undertaken in Germany and titled "Bücher in den Ring."
This year's Challenge Finals will take place in March 2012 prior to WrestleMania XXVIII in Miami. More than 2,000 branches and 50,000 young people from the U.S. and Canada are currently participating in the 2011-2012 challenge, including students from the Miami-Dade School District.
SummerSlam Reading Jam
This global literacy program encourages young people of all ages to read a book in the summer. From July through August, kids can join the program by visiting the "In Your Corner" section of WWE.com. Those who participate are asked to email the name of their favorite author along with one of the books they will read during the summer. By joining the program, children will have access receive a free SummerSlam poster through mail or digital download, which is available in 20 languages.
In 2011, more than 20,000 SummerSlam Reading Jam posters were distributed via mail or download to children from over 20 countries including Russia, France, Spain, Korea and China who participated in the program.
Military Outreach
WWE Superstars and Divas regularly visit military bases and hospitals, including Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Hospital, to bolster the morale of our troops. In 2004, the USO of Metropolitan Washington presented WWE with the first ever "Legacy of Hope" award for the company's extensive support of our troops and the USO's Operation Care Package program.
Since 2003, the WWE has produced its annual, holiday special "Tribute to the Troops." WWE Superstars and Divas perform exclusively for the troops and their families. The special airs on NBC. "Tribute to The Troops" has been filmed at military bases in Iraq, Afghanistan and the United States.
WWE is also a proud supporter of the National Guard's Youth ChalleNGe Program, which assists underpriviledged youth obtain their GED or competency in a technical trade. WWE Superstar Kofi Kingston serves as a spokesperson for the Youth Challenge.
Learn more about how WWE supports our troops >>