The Make-A-Wish Foundation of America honors celebrities and industry figures with its Chris Greicius Celebrity Award. The honorees are selected for their exceptional dedication to the Foundation’s mission by helping grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.

In 1990, the Make-A-Wish Foundation began honoring some of its most passionate celebrity wish makers with a special award, formerly called the Celebrity Wish Granter of the Year Award. In 2000, the honor was renamed the Chris Greicius Celebrity Award to reflect the spirit of going “above and beyond” in delivering a magical, memorable wish to a child.

The Chris Greicius Celebrity Award is named in honor of the 7-year-old boy whose wish to be a police officer inspired a group of caring volunteers to fulfill his dream in 1980 and later create the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Celebrities who have granted a wish in the past fiscal year or made a similarly significant contribution can be nominated for the award by any of the Foundation’s chapters. A committee selects award recipients based on the nominees’ passion and dedication to the Foundation’s mission through wish granting, giving and volunteering with local chapters or the national organization.

1990: Scott Hamilton

1991: Don Majkowski, Jesse Ventura

1992: Willard Scott

1993: Billy Ray Cyrus

1994: Ken Griffey Jr., Hulk Hogan

1995: Richard Dean Anderson

1996: Karl Malone

1997: Kevin Sharp

1998: John Travolta

1999: David Hasselhoff, Geoffrey Bodine, Steve Burns, Kristi Yamaguchi, Backstreet Boys

2000: Mariah Carey, President Bill Clinton, Dawson’s Creek, Michael J. Fox, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Chuck Norris

2001: Bob Costas, Paul Walker, Cher, The West Wing, National Hockey League, Jeff Gordon

2002: Mark Wahlberg, Tony Hawk, Major League Baseball, *NSYNC, Emeril Lagasse, Michael Levitt

2003: Adam Sandler, Kurt Warner, David Brubeck, National Football League, Erin Dogan (Sony Studios/Columbia Pictures), Doug Frank (Warner Bros. Studios)

2004: Garth Brooks, the cast of Charmed, World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (WWE)

2005: Clay Aiken, American Chopper, Johnny Depp, National Basketball Association, Will Smith, Keith Urban

2006: Raven, Jerome Bettis, Good Charlotte, Nigel Barker, Major League Soccer, US Soccer Federation, Sue Aitchison (World Wrestling Entertainment), Cheryl Kisob (Disney Worldwide Outreach), Tony Stephens (Credence Artist Network)

2007: Law & Order: SVU, My Chemical Romance, Criss Angel, Brett Favre, ESPN, Mary Alice Stephenson, film producer Ian Bryce, Sandy Marshall (NASCAR Foundation), Orlando Bloom

2008: George Lopez, Deal or No Deal, Rascal Flatts, Donald Trump, Dirk Nowitzki, Palace Sports & Entertainment (NBA Detroit Pistons), Howie Schwab (ESPN), Dean Kurtz (International Speedway Corporation), Lori Rischer (THE FIRM), Kenny Ortega (Disney’s High School Musical director, choreographer and producer), Spooky Stevens (unit publicist)

2009: John Cena, Charm City Cakes, Dave Matthews Band, Philadelphia Phillies, Garden of Dreams Foundation (New York)