Make-A-Wish® and ESPN Team Up for Seventh Annual “My Wish” Series

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--What would it be like shooting baskets with an NBA champion and MVP? Or tossing the football around with an NFL receiver and quarterback? How about slapping the puck around with an NHL player or racing around the track with a NASCAR driver? Or teeing off with one of the most exciting young PGA Tour golfers? Wish kids can tell you.

“The 'My Wish' series allows viewers to see firsthand the power and impact that a wish has on each wish kid we serve”

Those are the sports-themed wishes granted by Make-A-Wish in collaboration with the seventh-annual ESPN “My Wish” series, airing Sunday, July 15 and running through the week.

The summer series profiles wishes coming true for children with life-threatening medical conditions. Each segment takes viewers on an in-depth and often emotional journey into the children’s lives, medical conditions, the wish reveal, and the transformative experiences with their favorite athletes.

Emmy Award-winning reporter Chris Connelly will again host with participation from the following wish granters: the Miami Heat’s LeBron James, Washington Capitals’ Alexander Ovechkin, Philadelphia Eagles’ DeSean Jackson, PGA’s Rory McIlroy, NASCAR’s Kyle Busch, and the New York Jets’ Mark Sanchez.

"It's great to be back for our seventh season of 'My Wish,'" says Connelly. "From the beginning, it's always been a privilege for me just to step into the homes of these families and hear their powerful stories. It's impossible not to be moved by these parents' love and dedication and belief in the face of the unthinkable -- the life-threatening illness of a child. Once again, we have terrific young people to introduce you to this year, along with the athletes who fulfill their really heartwarming wishes and put some unforgettable smiles on their faces."

“The 'My Wish' series allows viewers to see firsthand the power and impact that a wish has on each wish kid we serve,” said David A. Williams, Make-A-Wish America president and chief executive officer. “Join us in watching the connection that grows between these kids and their favorite athletes. The support and dedication that ESPN puts into sharing each story matches our vision of granting the wish of every eligible child.”

Each wish will be the subject of a SportsCenter feature segment beginning Sunday morning, July 15 with a new piece to premier every day that week. Each feature will also be available at ESPN.com following its original air date.

Team ESPN

Team ESPN, the corporate outreach program of ESPN, encompasses ESPN’s multi-faceted community relations initiatives, including volunteerism, corporate giving and cause marketing, while utilizing its diverse media assets.

Through Team ESPN, ESPN employees and fans join together to make a difference in the communities in which we operate. Team ESPN’s slogan is “Fans Helping Fans.”® www.teamespn.com.

Make-A-Wish

Make-A-Wish^® grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. According to a 2011 U.S. study of wish impact, most health professionals surveyed believe a wish-come-true can have positive impacts on the health of children. Kids say wishes give them renewed strength to fight their illnesses, and their parents say these experiences help strengthen the entire family. Based in Phoenix, Make-A-Wish is one of the world’s leading children’s charities, serving children in every community in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and more than 25,000 volunteers, Make-A-Wish grants a wish somewhere in the country every 38 minutes. It has granted more than 212,000 wishes since its inception in 1980, nearly 14,000 in 2011 alone. Visit Make-A-Wish at wish.org and discover how you can share the power of a wish^®.