The Los Angeles Kings will receive the first ever Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles Power of a Wish Award at the 4th Annual Wishing Well Winter Gala on December 7, 2016 at the Hollywood Palladium, it was announced today by Neal Aton, President and CEO of Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles.
Hockey star and former LA Kings team captain Luc Robitaille will accept the award on their behalf.
The LA Kings join Academy Award-winner Robert Downey Jr and industry power broker and multimedia entrepreneur Scooter Braun in receiving honors at the Wishing Well Winter Gala, as previously announced.
The Power of a Wish Award recognizes an organization for its outstanding dedication to corporate social responsibility and its commitment to caring for the communities in which it lives and serves. Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles selected the LA Kings for this honor because of the team’s many years of philanthropy, wish granting and involvement helping to further the Make-A-Wish mission.
“Our relationship with the Kings is a very special alliance. We share a long-time friendship rooted in a deep commitment to the LA community plus a passion for bringing hopeful, thrilling experiences to our wish kids and their families,” said Aton. “What better way to inspire kids fighting life-threatening illnesses than by teaming them with these sports heroes who truly embody their philosophy that ‘we are all Kings.’”
This season, as part of their “Forever 50” program marking their 50th anniversary, the LA Kings are planning a number of exciting events with Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles and the kids they serve. “Make-A-Wish Day with the LA Kings” will be held on Wednesday, October 26th at the Toyota Sports Center. Fifty wish kids from across LA County will attend a Kings practice, tour the facilities, have lunch and skate with the Ice Crew and the Kings’ mascot, Bailey.
On Wednesday, November 30, the Kings will host “Make-A-Wish Night” at STAPLES Center for their game against the San Jose Sharks. Discounted pricing is available, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles. For more information and tickets, visit lakings.com/makeawish.
As yet another ongoing example of the Kings’ consistent involvement with Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles, the team hosts a Star-of-the-Month program that treats local wish kids to Kings tickets, a pre-game meal, and the opportunity to take part in one-of-a-kind experiences like watching warm-ups from the penalty box or riding the Zamboni.
During its 20-year history, the Kings Care Foundation has donated over $9 million in monetary and in-kind support to various organizations throughout the local Los Angeles community, including Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles. This award-winning LA Kings charity focuses its community outreach efforts on enhancing education, recreational and health-related program for children.
The Make-A-Wish awards are presented at the annual Wishing Well Winter Gala, where entertainment executives, celebrities, top business executives, community and civic leaders, medical professionals and philanthropists celebrate the children and families whose lives have been changed forever by the power of a wish. Since its start in 2013, these meaningful events have collectively raised almost $3 million for wish kids living in Greater Los Angeles. Past honorees include sports stars Kobe Bryant, Landon Donovan and Oscar de la Hoya; philanthropists Sam Nazarian and Michael Rosenfeld; and medical pioneers Children's Hospital Los Angeles, OneLegacy and Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA.
In addition to the award presentations, the evening will include entertainment, cocktails, sit-down dinner, one-of-a-kind silent and live auction items and wish granting. Additional award honorees will be announced shortly.
Join generous presenting sponsor, The Goldwin Foundation, along with many other partners and donors, in supporting the 4th Annual Make-A-Wish Wishing Well Winter Gala.
· To purchase tickets, tables and sponsorships please visit www.la.wish.org/gala
· To make a donation, visit www.la.wish.org.
