The National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum will receive the largest charitable gift in the institution's 36-year history thanks to a $1 million multi-year pledge just delivered for the organization's Wrestling Beyond the Walls Campaign. 

Andrew Barth, a businessman from San Marino, Calif., and his wife, Avery, pledged their contribution saying “We believe that this investment in The National Wrestling Hall of Fame will provide a tremendous return on the efforts of wrestling in our country.  This campaign is about honoring our legends and reaching out to our future.  We are excited and think others will be too by the opportunities created by this initiative.”

Barth received the NWHOF's Outstanding American honor in June 2012, which is only bestowed after a rigorous review process and a favorable vote from the NWHOF Executive Committee. Only two Outstanding American awards were approved in 2012, and Barth is the 48th recipient of this award. This honor demonstrates wrestling's pride in those who have used the disciplines of the sport to launch notable careers in other walks of life, such as science and technology, business and industry, government and the military, and the arts and humanities. 

"On behalf of the entire Board of Governors and staff of the NWHOF, I want to express our sincere gratitude to Avery and Andrew for their extraordinary act of generosity to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum's "Wrestling Beyond the Walls Campaign," said Lee Roy Smith, NWHOF Executive Director. "This investment, combined with funding provided by dozens of earlier supporters and Board Members, will enable the Hall of Fame to begin its transformation into an institution that better provides the public with access and inclusion into the world’s oldest and greatest sport."

The Wrestling Beyond the Walls campaign will fund a comprehensive $6 million high-tech revitalization of NWHOF facilities and exhibits plus greatly expanded outreach initiatives. A total of $4 million is required for the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Upgrades to the Dan Gable Museum in Waterloo, Iowa will total $750,000, while $1,250,000 is required for the proposed Mobile Museum.

Those interested in more information on Wrestling Beyond the Walls may call the Hall of Fame at (405) 377-5243 or access the website at www.nwhof.org.