Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America Honors Jeff Gordon NASCAR Driver Named Favorite Athlete

Make-A-Wish Foundation of America
Wednesday, 24 October 2001

(PHOENIX) October 24, 2001 – The Make-A-Wish Foundation of America will honor one of its most passionate public supporters, NASCAR Winston Cup racing superstar Jeff Gordon, with the 2001 Chris Greicius Award – Favorite Athlete. The award will be presented by Make-A-Wish Foundation of America President and CEO Paula Van Ness at Phoenix International Raceway on Saturday, October 27.

A staunch supporter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation through the Jeff Gordon Foundation, Gordon generously supports various charitable organizations. Between April and October 2001, he fulfilled the wishes of 11 Make-A-Wish® kids whose wish it had been to meet their hero.

"To meet the sporting legend a child emulates can be a life-changing experience," said Paula Van Ness. "Jeff Gordon has shown repeatedly he has the heart of a champion and he's helping Make-A-Wish kids feel like they're on top of the world." After the presentation of the award, two Make-A-Wish kids will get to meet, talk to, and hug their idol. Thirteen-year-old Conner Warren from Tucson, Ariz., and Nicholas Newcomb, 7, from Mira Loma, Calif., will both have private time with Gordon at the track.

"We get numerous requests to meet Jeff Gordon because our children recognize that he's a genuine, caring person, in addition to being a sports legend," continued Van Ness. "This award isn't just from the Make-A-Wish Foundation; it's on behalf of the many young lives Jeff has touched with his generosity and selflessness."

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of America presents six Chris Greicius Awards each year in the categories of favorite actor, favorite athlete, favorite musician, favorite public figure, favorite sports league, and favorite television show. Past recipients from the sports world include Karl Malone and Ken Griffey, Jr. The awards are named for the first child who received a wish, over 20 years ago, and inspired the beginning of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. It is the largest wish-granting organization in the world, with 80 chapters in the United States and its territories, and 22 international affiliates on five continents. Since being founded in 1980, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has granted more than 83,000 wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses.

For more information, or to contact Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, see their website at: www.wish.org