PHOENIX (March 29 2010) – The Make-A-Wish Foundation and World Wrestling Entertainment® collaborated together to grant the wishes of 35 children with life-threatening medical conditions to attend WrestleMania XXVI in Glendale Ariz. on March 28.  Once again the excitement and spectacle of the world’s biggest sports entertainment event was also once again one of the most popular draws for wish kids.

The wish kids and their families represented 16 Make-A-Wish® chapters in the United States plus Make-A-Wish International affiliates in Australia and Ireland. They enjoyed a full schedule of WrestleMania activities with WWE Superstars and Divas.

WWE Superstar John Cena one of the most popular celebrity wish requests among wish kids having granted more than 160 wishes since 2004 received the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s Chris Greicius Celebrity Award on Saturday March 27.  The award honors celebrities for their exceptional dedication to the Foundation’s mission by helping grant children’s wishes.

“Nothing I do in the ring is as rewarding as seeing the smile on the face of a kid whose wish is being granted ” said John Cena WWE Superstar and Make-A-Wish Foundation Wish Ambassador. “These kids are real heroes who face tremendous obstacles; it’s been inspiring and humbling to be so involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.”

Cena’s dedication symbolizes the overall support that WWE gives to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. For 26 years WWE has been one of the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s most dedicated wish granters fulfilling hundreds of children’s wishes to meet its Superstars and Divas and to attend major events such as WrestleMania. World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. has also made a multi-year commitment to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation and its wish-granting activities.

“WWE has provided so many remarkable memories for our wish kids over the years ” said David Williams Make-A-Wish Foundation of America president and chief executive officer. “We’re fortunate to have such committed wish-granting supporters in WWE and its Superstars and Divas who make the kids feel like champions and help us fulfill our life-affirming mission.”

During WrestleMania Week the wish kids’ experience included:

• a private autograph session with WWE Superstars and Divas
• a pizza party hosted by a surprise WWE Superstar (where the wish kids will be inducted into the WWE/Make-A-Wish Circle of Champions)
• an ice cream social sponsored by Cold Stone Creamery
• a special visit to WrestleMania Fan Axxess at the Phoenix Convention Center
• prime seats to watch WrestleMania XXVI at University of Phoenix Stadium.

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. Founded in 1980 when a group of caringvolunteers 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 65 chapters in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors andnearly 25 000 volunteers the Make-A-Wish Foundationgrants a wish every 40 minutes and has granted more than 188 000 wishes in the United States since its inception. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation visit wish.org and discover how you can share the power of a wish®.

Additional information on World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on its global activities go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/

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