PHOENIX (Oct. 6, 2008) – Mark Secrest had only day-dreamed about hitting tennis balls on center court with his all-time favorite tennis player, Andre Agassi. Then on Sept. 27, Mark found himself volleying shots and trading tennis stories with the eight-time Grand Slam champion when The Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation^® and the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® teamed to grant his wish.

Secrest, an 18-year-old from Huntingdon, Pa., met Agassi on Saturday during the Bryan Brothers’ All-Star Tennis Smash at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif. He and his family arrived in a limousine to find a red carpet waiting for them.

Agassi arrived soon after, and he was ready to show Secrest some of his best tennis tips. They spent more than an hour volleying on the stadium court, with Agassi coming to the net and offering Secrest pointers several times. They wrapped up the session with a friendly game – as they played, tennis fans were trickling in for the afternoon of charity matches. They cheered as Agassi and Secrest exchanged shots. Occasionally, Agassi would fire a full-power, pro-style blast over the net, delighting his wish student.

“It is the most amazing thing that could ever happen to you, if you like tennis,” Secrest said, savoring the memory.

Afterward, Secrest enjoyed the use of the VIP locker room and again met up with Agassi. Secrest offered him a few gifts to remember the occasion: Huntingdon Tennis t-shirts for Agassi and his wife, plus a Penn State sweatshirt. Agassi also had a parting gift for Secrest – the racquet that he used during the charity event, which he autographed.

“That’s sitting in my room, at home where nobody touches it!” Secrest said, laughing.

He added that the wish brought joy to his family who accompanied him – parents Alan and Kathy and brother David. Every bit of it, from his health obstacles to meeting Agassi, is a blessing in Secrest’s eyes.

Agassi thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated the opportunity to make Secrest’s wish come true. Reflecting on the day, Agassi commented, “Mark is an engaging, soulful young man who taught me to enjoy and appreciate the time we have. It was a privilege for me, more than Mark will ever know, to be a part of his wish.”

When he wasn’t getting tennis advice from Agassi, Secrest also watched a pro-am doubles match featuring James Blake. The two met after the match, and he also spent time chatting with the event hosts, Mike and Bob Bryan, who recently won the Olympic men’s doubles bronze medal and their second U.S. Open men’s doubles title. Secrest also caught a glimpse of women’s tennis star Lindsay Davenport.

Secrest’s mother, Kathy, marveled at the time Agassi devoted to her son’s wish. She was told the tournament was Agassi’s only public tennis appearance for 2008.

“And he chose to spend an hour with my son,” Kathy Secrest said. “Mark got the greatest gift of all.”

About the Make-A-Wish Foundation: The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Founded in 1980 when a group of caring volunteers helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 66 chapters in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and nearly 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants a wish every 40 minutes and has granted more than 171,000 wishes in the U.S. since inception. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit www.wish.org and discover how you can share the power of a wish^® .