Recipients of The Inaugural Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards were announced. Award-winners include Former President Jimmy Carter, singer/songwriters Christina Aguilera and Michael Bolton, Kentuckian Mark Hogg, and six young adults (35 and under) around the world who have made significant contributions toward the attainment of peace, social justice or other positive actions pertaining to human or social capital.
The Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards are unique because they are inspired by the six core principles that have guided Muhammad’s life—confidence, conviction, dedication, giving, respect and spirituality–and they also serve as the six pillars of The Muhammad Ali Center. The event will take place from 6:00-9:30pm on October 3rd at the Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville.
Christina Aguilera – referred to by many to as the “voice of her generation” – will be receiving the first ever Muhammad Ali Humanitarian of the Year Award. Ms. Aguilera is an acclaimed American singer/ songwriter who has developed a strong following over the past decade for her musical versatility and her deep dedication to philanthropic causes. As one of the most successful recording artists of the decade, Ms. Aguilera has sold more than 43 million records worldwide and won four Grammy Awards and one Latin Grammy Award. In 2012, she was named one of Time Magazine’s Most Influential People in the World. Since 2009, Ms. Aguilera has demonstrated her strong commitment to world hunger issues through her role as global spokesperson for Yum! Brands’ World Hunger Relief, a global movement and campaign to raise awareness and funds to end hunger. Through her public service announcement, appearing alongside Muhammad Ali, and through advertising and promotional efforts placed in tens of thousands of restaurants worldwide, this campaign raised millions for hunger relief and provided millions of meals, saving the lives of millions where WFP has the greatest need.
Donald Lassere, President and CEO of the Muhammad Ali Center said, “The Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards will shine rays of light and hope to the world as Muhammad, himself, has done for so many years. Our Muhammad Ali Humanitarians are saving lives and bringing hope to people all around the world. These outstanding young women and men are great examples of the legacy that Muhammad will leave on this world. It is through them and other young people like them that one day we will reach a world where no one has to be thirsty, where no one has to be hungry and where one day we can all live in peace.”
The Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards will be emceed by Touré, co-host of MSNBC’s The Cycle which airs daily at 3pm. He is also the author of “I Would Die 4 U: Why Prince Became An Icon,” and “Who’s Afraid of Post-Blackness? What It Means To Be Black Now,” which was named one of the Most Notable Books of 2011 by the New York Times and the Washington Post. He has published three previous books and is currently co-writing the autobiography of the legendary rapper Nas. He is a columnist for Time.com. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two children.
Lonnie and Muhammad Ali will be in attendance. Other confirmed guests are Mayor Greg Fischer, Senator Rand Paul, Congressman John Yarmuth, Kentucky Secretary of State Alison LunderganGrimes, Coach John Calipari, Coach Jeff Walz and the University of Louisville Women’s basketball team, Laila Ali, Ambassador Martin Anjaba of Namibia, musicians C. J. Vanston, and Michael Fitzpatrick, and others.
Tickets for the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards can be purchased through the Muhammad Ali Center’s web site (www.alicenter.org/awards) or by calling 502.992.5353. Tickets are $1,000 per person, but there are also a limited number of tickets for sale at $500. Tables of ten are available for $10,000. The final date for RSVP and ticket purchasing will be Wednesday, September 25th.
Source: Wave 3
