ALPHARETTA, Ga. and STAMFORD, Conn., December 17, 2012 – WWE (NYSE: WWE) today announced a partnership with Hire Heroes USA, an organization committed to serving our nation’s veterans through personalized and customized job search training and assistance. To support Hire Heroes USA’s mission, WWE will make a donation and utilize all its assets, including TV broadcasts, live events, digital and social media to generate awareness and raise funds. In addition, Hire Heroes USA will partner with WWE to implement a veterans hiring initiative and enhance WWE’s military hiring practices.

 

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The partnership, which will expand WWE’s commitment to the military through the support of programs that create job opportunities for U.S. military veterans and their spouses, will be featured during the 10th anniversary of WWE Tribute to the Troops. This annual holiday special airs on USA Network this Wednesday, December 19 at 9 p.m. and on NBC this Saturday, December 22 at 9 p.m.

 

With a narrowly tailored mission and a personal approach to each unemployed or transitioning veteran and spouse, Hire Heroes USA has helped more than 600 veterans find employment in the past two years. In 2012 almost 2,000 new veterans registered for Hire Heroes USA assistance and nearly 400 more were helped at two-day workshops focused on providing assistance to wounded, ill, or injured service members.

 

“WWE has a clear commitment to supporting the US military and the top organizations that help military veterans and their families,” said Brian Stann, President and CEO of Hire Heroes USA. “Like us, WWE follows verbal support with action, making a tangible difference in the lives of those who have sacrificed so much in defense of this nation. We are proud to partner with WWE so that together we can help reduce veteran unemployment.”

 

“WWE has a long history of supporting our armed forces because we are extremely grateful for the sacrifices of our nation’s heroes,” said Vince McMahon, Chairman and CEO, WWE. “It is an honor for us to partner with Hire Heroes USA and support programs that will help our veterans.”

 

WWE’s longstanding commitment to the military in the U.S. and abroad includes its annual Tribute to the Troops events, Tickets for the Troops program and regular visits to military bases, hospitals and fundraisers that support military personnel and their families.

 

The United States Department of Labor estimates that the military discharges 160,000 active service members and 110,000 Reserve and National Guard members annually. Statistically, about 32,000 of those veterans will join the ranks of nearly 1 million veterans already unemployed.

 

For more information about Hire Heroes USA, please visit www.hireheroesusa.org.

 

 

About WWE’S Corporate Social Responsibility
WWE’s global community outreach programs address important social issues, including education, diversity and inclusion, military support and fulfilling wishes and dreams. WWE and its Superstars and Divas support a wide range of programs, partners and initiatives that strive to positively impact children and families worldwide, including the “Be a STAR” anti-bullying campaign, WrestleMania Reading Challenge, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Make-A-Wish, WWE Tribute to the Troops and many more. For more information log onto http://www.wwe.com/inside/overtheropes/wweinyourcorner.

 

About WWE
WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE programming is broadcast in more than 145 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 600 million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Istanbul and Tokyo.

 

Additional information on WWE (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/.

 

About Hire Heroes USA
Founded in 2007, Hire Heroes USA is a national, nonprofit organization headquartered in Alpharetta, Ga. Hire Heroes USA is dedicated to creating job opportunities for US military veterans and their spouses through personalized employment training and corporate engagement. Hire Heroes USA has gained national-recognition for its comprehensive “recruitment to placement” continuum of veteran assistance and corporate engagement, resulting in one veteran hired every business day. For more information visit www.hireheroesusa.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Media Contacts:
Matthew Altman
WWE
203-352-1177
[email protected]

 

Megan Whitson
Hire Heroes USA
678-248-8126
[email protected]

 

Investor Contact:
Michael Weitz
WWE
203-352-8642
[email protected]

 

Trademarks: All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks, logos and copyrights are the exclusive property of WWE and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.

 

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks relating to maintaining and renewing key agreements, including television and pay-per-view programming distribution agreements; the need for continually developing creative and entertaining programming; the continued importance of key performers and the services of Vincent McMahon; the conditions of the markets in which we compete and acceptance of the Company's brands, media and merchandise within those markets; our exposure to bad debt risk; uncertainties relating to regulatory and litigation matters; risks resulting from the highly competitive nature of our markets; uncertainties associated with international markets; the importance of protecting our intellectual property and complying with the intellectual property rights of others; risks associated with producing and travelling to and from our large live events, both domestically and internationally; the risk of accidents or injuries during our physically demanding events; risks relating to our film business; risks relating to increasing content production for distribution on various platforms, including the potential creation of a WWE Network; risks relating to our computer systems and online operations; risks relating to the large number of shares of common stock controlled by members of the McMahon family and the possibility of the sale of their stock by the McMahons or the perception of the possibility of such sales; the relatively small public float of our stock; and other risks and factors set forth from time to time in Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results could differ materially from those currently expected or anticipated. In addition, our dividend is dependent on a number of factors, including, among other things, our liquidity and historical and projected cash flow, strategic plan (including alternative uses of capital), our financial results and condition, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends, general economic and competitive conditions and such other factors as our Board of Directors may consider relevant.