As Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles celebrates its 35th year of granting wishes in Los Angeles County the nonprofit organization has appointed SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment Chairman Yoshikazu Maruyama to its Board of Directors. With a mission to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses, Make-A-Wish Greater LA has granted nearly 10,000 wishes throughout the city. In 2018 alone, SeaWorld has helped to grant over 200 wishes to children with critical illnesses throughout the United States whose wishes have included meeting penguins, swimming with dolphins and having a stingray experience.

“We are so excited to have Yoshi join our Board at a time when we need to raise vital funding to reach the over 500 children with critical illnesses currently waiting for their wishes,” said Bo Pearl, Board Chair, Make-A-Wish Greater LA. “We are grateful for Yoshi’s leadership and to SeaWorld for creating experiences that blend imagination with nature and enabling our wish kids to realize their dreams, connect with their families and fuel their recovery from critical illnesses.”

“SeaWorld has helped dreams come true for thousands of kids through our partnership with Make-A-Wish and I’m excited to be personally involved,” stated Mr. Maruyama. “SeaWorld offers up-close and interactive experiences with marine animals, with a goal to inspire compassion for animals, the ocean and each other, helping families spend important time together, away from the challenges of everyday life.”

Mr. Maruyama was appointed Chairman of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment in 2017. Prior to that, Mr. Maruyama was Global Head of Location Based Entertainment for DreamWorks Animation SKG, where he served from 2010 until 2017. From 1995 to 2009, he served various roles at Universal Parks & Resorts including as Senior Vice President of Global Business Development, and as Chief Strategist and Board Director of Universal Studios Japan. Mr. Maruyama also serves on the Board of Trustees and Treasurer of The Buckley School in Sherman Oaks and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Operations Research from Columbia University in New York.

About Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles

Founded in 1983, Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. The LA chapter has granted nearly 10,000 wishes to children in Los Angeles County. The chapter grants over 300 wishes each year, and facilitates nearly as many wishes for children from all over the world whose wish is to come to Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.la.wish.org.

Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles is an independent 501(c)(3) that is part of Make-A-Wish America, a national organization that oversees 60 chapters across the country. Make-A-Wish America is one of the world's leading children's charities, serving children in every community in the United States and its territories.

About SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.

SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: SEAS) is a leading theme park and entertainment company providing experiences that matter, and inspiring guests to protect animals and the wild wonders of our world. The Company is one of the world's foremost zoological organizations and a global leader in animal welfare, training, husbandry and veterinary care. The Company collectively cares for what it believes is one of the largest zoological collections in the world and has helped lead advances in the care of animals. The Company also rescues and rehabilitates marine and terrestrial animals that are ill, injured, orphaned or abandoned, with the goal of returning them to the wild. The SeaWorld® rescue team has helped more than 33,000 animals in need over the last 50 years. SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. owns or licenses a portfolio of recognized brands including SeaWorld®, Busch Gardens®, Aquatica®, Sesame Place® and Sea Rescue®. Over its more than 50-year history, the Company has built a diversified portfolio of 12 destination and regional theme parks that are grouped in key markets across the United States, many of which showcase its one-of-a-kind zoological collection. The Company's theme parks feature a diverse array of rides, shows and other attractions with broad demographic appeal which deliver memorable experiences and a strong value proposition for its guests. For more information on SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, visit our corporate site at seaworldentertainment.com.