Celebrity Make-A-Wish Stories
These stars brightened the days of sick kids.
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Beyoncé - Love them or loathe them, celebrities have the ability to impact people around the world. A handful have used their fame to bring a smile to children suffering terminal illnesses through the Make-A-Wish foundation. There wasn't a dry eye in the house when Beyoncé serenaded 12-year-old Taylon Davis, a young girl with an inoperable brain tumor whose last wish was to dance with her idol. Bey seated Taylon and her mom in a special section of her Las Vegas concert and sang "Love on Top" and "Survivor" with the brave little girl. (Photos from left: Beyonce via Youtube, Larry Busacca/PW/WireImage for Parkwood Entertainment)
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Tyler Perry - The movie mogul has a heart as big as Madea's...well, you know. Perry made the wish of Anthony, a 9-year-old with neuroblastoma, come true when he paid him a visit and invited him to sit front-and-center at his Madea's One Big Happy Family tour. Anthony told the foundation that watching Perry's films helped keep his spirits up while he was in the hospital. (Photo: Courtesy of Make-A-Wish Foundation of America)
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Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson - He's faced men built like giants in the ring, but a 10-year-old boy was the first person to ever make The Rock cry in public. The wrestler-turned-actor spent some time with Spud, a young man with degenerative heart disease, who was a big fan of the muscle man's signature moves and phrases. After an unforgettable night, during which Spud and his family sat ringside at a WWE event, the tears were flowing when Spud told his hero, "Thank you, Dwayne. You made an impact on someone's life." (Photo: Courtesy of Make-A-Wish Foundation of America)
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Michael Jordan - Jordan's moves on the court landed him a spot in the Hall of Fame, but it's his actions with the Make-A-Wish Foundation that have touched countless lives. Jordan has been working with the organization for over two decades, during which time he granted over 175 wishes. In 2009, he was named Chief Wish Ambassador, an honor he likely holds as proudly as his championship rings. (Photo: Getty Images)
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LeBron James - The Miami Heat have faced some stiff battles on the court, but none can compare to the fight between Atlanta teen Thiago D'Elia and the cancer that aimed to cut short his life. Make-A-Wish helped make D'Elia's dream of hanging with the NBA champs come true in 2012. The teen, who impressed the Heat with his three-pointers on the court during practice, bonded particularly with James, who was raised by a single mother just like himself. (Photo: YouTube.com/user/MakeAWishFoundation)
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Miley Cyrus - These days, she's grabbing headlines as the Queen of Twerk, but for a number of kids with terminal illnesses, Cyrus was a beacon of hope. The "Wrecking Ball" singer took time out of her schedule to spend time with 14 children through the Make-A-Wish foundation in 2011, giving them a personal tour of Los Angeles. (Photo: Courtesy of Make-A-Wish Foundation of America)
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Mario Lopez - The Extra host gave 11-year-old Cayden, suffering a brain tumor, the star treatment during a visit to the set of the news magazine show, where he got to live out his pop star dreams by recording a song and performing with Maroon 5. (Photo: Courtesy of Make-A-Wish Foundation of America)
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Mariah Carey - The Butler actress may have a reputation as a diva when it comes to her performances, but it seems she puts that aside when it comes to charity. Mimi has done so much for sick children that she was given the Make-A-Wish Foundation's Wish Icon Award in 2006 for all of her hard work. Mariah's work with the foundation continues to this day.(Photo: Janet Mayer/Splash News)
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Michael Jackson - Jackson's largesse toward the Make-A-Wish foundation was arguably more than any other celebrity. The late pop star held charity events at his Neverland Ranch to raise money for the foundation and hosted a number of sick and underprivileged children. Sadly, Jackson's reputation as a Make-A-Wish ambassador was smeared when some reported that there was a connection between his charitable efforts and child molestation charges. Make-A-Wish released a statement denying any connection.(Photo: Brenda Chase/Online USA/Getty Images)
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Justin Bieber - Earlier this year, Bieber became the first recording artist in Make-A-Wish history to grant 200 wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. The pop star's 200th wish occurred during his Believe Tour, when he met 8-year-old Annalysha and gave her the VIP treatment backstage during the concert. (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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