Community
Get R.E.A.L.:� Get R.E.A.L. is an in-school program that brings WWE Superstars into senior high and middle schools to deliver positive messages about Respect, Education, Achievement and Leadership, and how these four tenets can help students achieve their goals.�
WrestleMania Reading Challenge:� WWE and the American Library Association’s Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) sponsor the national WrestleMania Reading Challenge to encourage “reluctant readers” to read more.� The Challenge, with more than a 1,800 libraries participating this year, will culminate at the national WrestleMania Reading Challenge final the weekend of WrestleMania 25 in Houston, Texas.
In the UK, WWE has partnered with the National Literacy Trust to promote reading and The WrestleMania Reading Challenge.
Smackdown Your Vote!: Smackdown Your Vote! is a non-partisan partnership to encourage more 18 to 30 year olds to vote.� Among the organizations participating are the League of Women Voters, the National Association of Secretaries of State, the Harvard Institute of Politics, University of Virginia’s Youth Leadership Initiative, and Rock the Vote.� Smackdown Your Vote! has engaged in various activities and provided resources to reach young adults throughout the U.S. to encourage them to become more active in the democratic process.�
Among our accomplishments: 2008 presidential candidates Senator McCain, Senator Clinton and Senator Obama provided taped messages that were incorporated into WWE programming; creation of a national voter issues paper for 18-to 30-year-olds; voter registration activities at WWE live events; and a 2004 Smackdown Your Vote! Youth Debate undertaken in cooperation with the Commission on Presidential Debates that was broadcast by ABC News Now.� In 2006, a series of podcasts were conducted centered around the questions found within The 18-30 VIP. �National political figures who participated in the podcast series included Ken Mehlman, former Republican Party Chairman, Gov. Howard Dean, Democratic Party Chairman, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former White House Press Secretary Tony Snow and former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen.
Circle of Champions: World Wrestling Entertainment’s Circle of Champions grants the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses who desire to meet their favorite WWE Superstars.� Since 1982, WWE Superstars have conducted more than 5,000 meet-and-greet sessions with sick children in the United States, Great Britain, Germany and Australia.� The Make-A-Wish Foundation has awarded WWE its Chris Greicius Award for WWE’s extensive support of its organization.
Tribute to the Troops:� WWE Superstars regularly visit military bases and hospitals, including Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Hospital, to bolster the morale of our troops.� Since 2003, the WWE has produced WWE’s Holiday Tribute to the Troops with WWE Superstars performing before troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.� WWE also is a proud supporter of the National Guard’s ChalleNGe program, which assists underprivileged youth obtain their GED or other technical trades.�
In 2004, the USO of Metropolitan Washington presented WWE with the first ever “Legacy of Hope” award for our extensive support of our troops and the USO’s Operation Care Package program.�� In 2005, The Army Air Force Exchange Service awarded WWE the first-ever Three Commander Coin Award for WWE’s support of its partnership with AAFES to improve the quality of life for our troops by supporting service members and their families worldwide. In 2006, WWE received the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Public Service Award for exceptional public service in support of deployed service members in Iraq and Afghanistan.� In 2008, WWE was given the Corporate Patriot Award by the GI Film Festival.
Youth Incentive Program:� WWE has a philosophy of using its immense popularity to encourage young people to undertake positive activities in the real world that can have a significant benefit to their local community. Some of the programs WWE has assisted in this effort to provide safe environments and alternatives for children include MAN (Minority Athletes Networking) Inc., Boys and Girls Clubs, Youth Education through Sport, Police Athletic Leagues, along with many community based charities.�
WWE’s Going, Going, Gone:� Through the “Going, Going, Gone” program, WWE donates millions of dollars in merchandise annually to hundreds of charitable organizations to assist them in raising money through auctions, raffles and other fundraising activities.� Each holiday season, WWE fulfills hundreds of requests from charitable and religious organizations providing merchandise as gifts for underprivileged kids.�