WWE will be donating $100,000 to the Knoxville Public Safety Foundation in appreciation of Kane – aka Glenn Jacobs, the new mayor of Knox County, TN – making a few appearances with the company in the fall, reported television station WBIR on Tuesday.
“The money will go to the Knoxville Public Safety Foundation, which benefits employees of the Knoxville Fire Department, Knoxville Police Department, Knox County Sheriff’s Office and University of Tennessee Police Department,” WBIR reported. “The foundation supports employees and their families who’ve suffered a catastrophic injury, illness, death or other significant event.”
This donation will not only be a great benefit for Knox County but also wrestling fans who will get to see the Big Red Machine in action again. It was announced on Raw Monday that Kane would be in The Undertaker’s corner in his match against HHH at the upcoming Super Showdown in Australia on October 6.
"Standing in my corner will be my BROTHER @KaneWWE!" – The #Undertaker upped the anticipation for #WWESSD last night on #RAW… pic.twitter.com/cVEhvy6EU5
— WWE (@WWE) September 18, 2018
It was no secret that Kane would continue to wrestle after becoming mayor, something Jacobs has always made clear.
The WWE also has a long record of helping charitable causes, everything from the Boys & Girls Club to helping fight breast and pediatric cancer. Of helping Knox County first responders and Jacobs new role as mayor, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon said, “I appreciate his gesture to the heroes who selflessly put themselves in harm’s way and look forward to his continued progress in his mission.”
Jacobs has long used his WWE celebrity to help local charities for many years in the Knoxville area he made home over two decades ago, something that’s evident from his personal or political – non-WWE – Twitter account.
Since 2005, the #KnoxCounty library system has sent out over 2.6 million books as part of @dollyslibrary! 80% of Knox County children under the age of 5 recieve a book each month! @DollyParton pic.twitter.com/AhqgZtcyQo
— Glenn Jacobs (@GlennJacobsTN) September 5, 2018
Got to meet @RPMotorsports and #LeeMajors at @BubbaFest. Even better, @MEDICblood is here holding a blood drive. #GiveBlood #GiveLife #BloodDrive pic.twitter.com/kF1OiEhnR5
— Glenn Jacobs (@GlennJacobsTN) August 11, 2018
Please join us! https://t.co/JcO6gct392 pic.twitter.com/59eauDyEpm
— Glenn Jacobs (@GlennJacobsTN) August 4, 2018
Of WWE’s donation, Jacobs told WBIR, “(This) $100,000 is a significant contribution especially for the family of a fallen police officer or a firefighter that could help them through that transition of losing a loved one.”
Jacobs added:
“I’m extremely proud that my career with WWE will have a positive impact on the community through my role as Knox County mayor.”
While not every town has a mayor that is also a globally known professional wrestler, it’s hard not to imagine local fans of WWE loving having the guy who runs their county on television. For Knox County residents who don’t know anything about professional wrestling or WWE, it’s hard to imagine them not being happy with such a charitable donation from Jacobs’ former full-time employer.