page_title: John Cena
section_title: Philanthropy
hierarchical_section_title: John Cena / Other ventures / Philanthropy
caption_attribution_description: English: John Cena posing with various children in December 2011
context_page_description: John Felix Anthony Cena Jr. is an American professional wrestler, actor, rapper, and television presenter. He is currently signed to the WWE on a part-time deal, is the current host of Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? on Nickelodeon and has starred in various films.
  Born and raised in West Newbury, Massachusetts, Cena moved to California in 1998 to pursue a career as a bodybuilder. He transitioned to professional wrestling in 1999 when he debuted for Ultimate Pro Wrestling. He signed with the World Wrestling Federation in 2001, where he was initially assigned to Ohio Valley Wrestling. He gained fame in the WWE after adopting the persona of a trash-talking rapper. He won his first singles title, the United States Championship, in 2004. The next year, he won the WWE Championship for the first time, and his character subsequently transitioned into a clean-cut "Superman-like" hero. He then led the company as its franchise player and its public face for the next decade.
  Cena is a five-time United States Champion, four-time world tag team champion, and a 16-time world champion. He is tied with Ric Flair for the most world championship reigns in WWE history.
context_section_description: Cena has granted over 500 wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses through the Make-A-Wish Foundation—the most in Make-A-Wish history. In 2009, Cena received the Chris Greicius Celebrity Award.
  From late 2011 until WrestleMania XXVIII, Cena wore a black "Rise Above Hate" T-shirt promoting WWE's "Be a Star" anti-bullying campaign. In September and October 2012, Cena wore pink and black with the phrase "Rise Above Cancer" in partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
  In November 2016, Cena appeared in a public service announcement, "We Are America", sponsored by the Ad Council as part of its "Love Has No Labels" campaign.
  Cena made a $1 million donation to Black Lives Matter in June 2020 as part of the #MatchAMillion initiative made popular by k-pop band, BTS.
caption: Cena posing with children.
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