Dwayne Johnson Gives Kids At St Louis Children’s Hospital New Xbox Consoles
By Kelly Fisher
November 10, 2020
Kids at the St. Louis Children’s Hospital are getting a fun surprise from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
Partnering with Microsoft and Gamers Outreach, the actor and former pro wrestler is surprising children’s hospital patients with custom Xbox Series X consoles.
“Twenty years ago, I teamed up with my buddy Bill Gates and we launched the very first Xbox console to the world,” Johnson said in an Instagram announcement. “Since then, over the years, I’ve had the real privilege of working very closely with Xbox to deliver Xbox consoles and Xbox games to kids all across the country and America and all over the world — kids who are in need, kids who are fighting the good fight, kids who are hospitalized, getting treatment — and we have delivered these smiles, if you will, over the years.”
He announced that the partnership would continue this week. The Instagram video has garnered more than 2.8 million views since it posted Monday (November 9).
“Before the world gets (the new console), I have an opportunity to team up with Xbox and deliver some of the very first Xbox series X consoles to kids all across the country in 20 hospitals,” Johnson said. “Over the next year we have over 50,000 kids who are going to be able to play this game.”
Johnson’s signature will be engraved on the custom consoles, reading: “Keep smiling and HAVE FUN. Love, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.”
The new consoles launched Tuesday (November 10), and the St. Louis Children’s Hospital is one of 20 nationwide to get the first round of new consoles, along with wireless controllers and Gamers Outreach (GO) Karts, KSDK reported Tuesday.
"The GO Karts were built specifically for hospitals to empower and bring joy to families through play, giving kids access to interactive entertainment and the chance to socialize via video games," according to a press release.
On Instagram, Johnson hailed the “incredible bravery” of the kids fighting illnesses.
“You kids show me and the world, what real strength means,” he wrote. “Stay strong & Keep smilin.’”
Photos: Getty Images