Make-A-Wish and Fanatics Team Up in First-Of-Its-Kind, Game-Changing Partnership to Support All Sports Wishes for Children Battling Critical Illnesses

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Oct 24, 2023, 08:15 ET

The leading global digital sports platform is now the "Official Sports Partner" for Make-A-Wish and will support all sports-related wishes throughout the U.S.

Tom Brady, Aaron Judge, and Jayson Tatum to participate in first co-branded wish granting event in New York City

PHOENIX and NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Make-A-Wish and Fanatics, a leading global digital sports platform, today announced a first-of-its-kind partnership in which Fanatics will become the wish-granting organization's "Official Sports Partner." Through the partnership, sports-related wishes in the U.S. will be granted under the co-brand of Fanatics Make-A-Wish.

With more than 900 sports partnerships, exclusive contracts with thousands of top-tier athletes, and a brand that is focused on the sports fan, Fanatics is uniquely positioned to create once-in-a-lifetime experiences for wish kids and their families and elevate the broader sports-related vertical that Make-A-Wish is building. This includes supporting life-changing wishes around athlete meet-and-greets, Championship games, All-Star Weekends, Rookie Drafts, and the world's premier, sought-after sporting events.

"Fanatics has been championing Make-A-Wish and its incredible efforts for many years, and this partnership will be an ongoing testament to the power of sports and the possibilities for children to heal through connections to their favorite teams and sports heroes," said Fanatics Chief People Officer, Orlando Ashford. "Fanatics' relationships and access to thousands of athletes across all sports, a wide-ranging roster of preeminent partners, and expanding sports platform will all be leveraged to give these incredibly brave kids and their families the most memorable, once-in-a-lifetime experiences that we're honored to deliver."

In addition to supporting wish granting, Fanatics will make a $10 million contribution and provide Make-A-Wish with additional resources – including merchandise and production costs for external storytelling efforts – to build a comprehensive partnership over the next several years. These efforts will help create an even stronger sports vertical and close the gap in the number of sports wishes waiting to be granted, resulting in more children receiving their wishes sooner and Fanatics' platform elevating the level of experiences offered.

"A critical illness upends childhood, bringing months, and sometimes years, of fear and traumatic stress into the lives of children and their families," said Leslie Motter, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish America. "Our partnership with Fanatics will help us create transformative experiences that will leave a lasting, positive impact long after the wish, often marking a turning point in a child's treatment and recovery."

To celebrate the partnership's launch, Fanatics and Make-A-Wish will host an event in New York City later today where sports icons, including Tom Brady, Aaron Judge, and Jayson Tatum, will grant the wishes of multiple children. This unique, first-of-its-kind event will create an opportunity for wish kids to have their wish granted and meet and spend time with several world-class athletes. The event is an introduction to how Fanatics and Make-A-Wish are committed to enriching and amplifying the many current and future sports-related wishes.

The official partnership comes after many years of Fanatics' support for Make-A-Wish, helping enhance wish kids' experiences at sporting events, including most recently at the MLB All-Star Game in Seattle and upcoming at the 2023 World Series. Over the years, Fanatics has helped Make-A-Wish chapters elevate wish experiences by organizing meet-and-greets with athletes, providing premiere hospitality during sports events, and gifting wish kids licensed sports merchandise from their favorite teams and players.

In addition to wish-granting support, Orlando Ashford, Fanatics Chief People Officer, will join the Make-A-Wish America National Board of Directors with a focus on deepening our relationship and strengthening the organization's sports vertical.

To learn more about the partnership and how you can also support the Make-A-Wish mission, visit wish.org/fanatics.

About Make-A-Wish^®

Make-A-Wish creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Founded in Phoenix, Arizona, Make-A-Wish is the #1 most trusted nonprofit operating locally in all 50 states throughout the U.S. Together with generous donors, supporters, staff and more than 24,000 volunteers across the country, Make-A-Wish delivers hope and joy to children and their families when they need it most. Make-A-Wish aims to bring the power of wishing to every child with a critical illness because wish experiences can help improve emotional and physical health. Since 1980, Make-A-Wish has granted more than 550,000 wishes in 50 countries worldwide; more than 360,000 wishes in the U.S. and its territories alone. For more information about Make-A-Wish America, visit wish.org.

About Fanatics

Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform. The company ignites the passions of global sports fans and maximizes the presence and reach for hundreds of sports partners globally by offering innovative products and services across Fanatics Commerce, Fanatics Collectibles, and Fanatics Betting & Gaming, allowing sports fans to Buy, Collect and Bet. Through the Fanatics platform, sports fans can buy licensed fan gear, jerseys, lifestyle and streetwear products, headwear, and hardgoods; collect physical and digital trading cards, sports memorabilia, and other digital assets; and bet as the company builds its Sportsbook and iGaming platform. Fanatics has an established database of over 100 million global sports fans, a global partner network with over 900 sports properties, including major national and international professional sports leagues, teams, players associations, athletes, celebrities, colleges, and college conferences.

For additional information please visit www.fanaticsinc.com.

SOURCE MAKE-A-WISH AMERICA