MUHAMMAD ALI TO VISIT THE UNITED KINGDOM AND IRELAND
APPEARANCES TO BENEFIT CHARITABLE INITIATIVES
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, USA (July 24, 2009) For the first time in several years, Muhammad Ali—boxing champion, humanitarian, and global icon—in late August will travel to Europe to make several appearances in the United Kingdom and in Ireland to raise awareness, support, and funding for the Muhammad Ali Center located in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky USA and the Alltech-Muhammad Ali Center Global Education and Charitable Fund. During their stay in Europe, Muhammad and Lonnie will attend the Alltech FEI European Jumping and Dressage Championships 2009 at Windsor Castle, United Kingdom (25th – 30th August 2009) and take part in “An Evening with The Greatest,” a Dublin, Ireland-based fundraising event on August 31st for the Alltech-Muhammad Ali Center Global Education and Charitable Fund. In addition, the Ali's will appear for a dinner in Manchester at Old Trafford Manchester United Football ground on August 26th and for a luncheon with children at Britannia Stadium- home of the Stoke City Football Club in Stoke-on-Trent on August 27th.
The Manchester and Stoke events have both been organized to raise support for the important work undertaken by the Muhammad Ali Center, a non-profit organization founded in 2005 by Ali and his wife Lonnie. Some of the proceeds will also benefit the Children’s Hospices in the U.K.
Lonnie Ali and Muhammad are delighted to be visiting the UK and Ireland again to reconnect with old friends and to garner support for global charitable causes that are important to them, especially those that benefit children.
When the Ali's dedicated the Ali Center, it was with a true passion and commitment to advance humanity worldwide. The Center’s mission is to preserve and share the legacy and ideals of Muhammad Ali, to promote respect, hope and understanding, and to inspire adults and children everywhere to be as great as they can be. Since opening less than 4 years ago, visitors from 109 countries have travelled to Louisville to learn about the Champ’s values and undisputed place in history.
The other initiative the Ali's hope to give emphasis to during their European visit is the Alltech-Muhammad Ali Center Global Education and Charitable Fund, announced in May 2009 by Alltech (www.alltech.com) –a major animal health and nutrition company headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky and with offices and distributors in 113 countries—and the Muhammad Ali Center (www.alicenter.org). The objective for both organizations was to combine collective charitable ambitions in an effort to expand global educational reach and humanitarian endeavors. The goals of the Fund are to provide leadership and character education; educational scholarships for arts; natural science and humanitarian endeavors; elementary school science labs; relief and support during world crises; and encouragement in the pursuit of excellence and personal greatness.
Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of Muhammad Ali’s first professional fight—which took place in Louisville against Tunney Hunsaker. But the significance of Ali’s trip to Europe is especially meaningful at this stage of his life and his legacy in the UK and Ireland is especially profound. In 1963, Ali (then Cassius Clay) first visited the UK when he faced Henry Cooper in London, and then in again in 1966 (as Muhammad Ali); Ali won both fights with TKO decisions. Also in London, a few months later, The Champ challenged Brian London and triumphed with a knockout punch in the third round. In 1972, Ali took on Al (Blue) Davis in Dublin and defeated him with a TKO.
Still a fighter, Ali now focuses much of his time and effort on raising awareness and support for the Muhammad Ali Center, the Fund, and the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center in Phoenix, Arizona USA. Ali’s work has taken him across continents—hand delivering food and medical supplies to such needy sites as the Harapan Kita Hospital for Children in Jakarta, Indonesia; the street children of Morocco; and Sister Beltran’s orphanage for Liberian refugees in the Ivory Coast, to name just a few. When the Special Olympic World Summer Games were held in Dublin in 2003—the first time in history that the Games did not take place on American soil—Muhammad Ali was there for the Opening Night Ceremonies with other guests such as Nelson Mandela, Bono of U2, Jon Bon Jovi, Pierce Brosnan—and many other celebrities who took part in the event to support those with intellectual disabilities around the world.
The Muhammad Ali Center’s UK partner for events in Stoke and Manchester is Mammoth Events and Management Limited, based in London. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.mammothevents.co.uk or contact Stephen Beverley at steve@mammothevent.co.uk.
For information about the Ali’s visit to the Alltech FEI European Championships at Windsor and the Dublin event, contact Christina Lombard at clombard@alltech.com or call +353 1 825 2244. In the U.S., please contact Susanna Elliott at suelliott@alltech.com or call (859) 887 5144.
ALL OTHER QUESTIONS:
Simon Oliveira Jeanie Kahnke
07775 740 419 VP Communications
simon.oliveira@19.co.uk Muhammad Ali Center
Louisville, Kentucky USA
Matt Gentry T: 502 992 5301
matthew.gentry@19.co.uk jkahnke@alicenter.org
07736 300694
19 Entertainment Ltd
London, UK
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The Muhammad Ali Center is a cultural attraction and international education center that is inspired by the ideals of Muhammad Ali. Featuring an award-winning visitor experience, educational and public programming, and global initiatives, the Ali Center reaches beyond its physical walls to fulfill its mission: To preserve and share the legacy and ideals of Muhammad Ali, to promote respect, hope and understanding, and to inspire adults and children everywhere to be as great as they can be. For more information, visit www.alicenter.org.
Alltech, a global leader in animal health and nutrition, is the proud sponsor of the Alltech FEI European Championships in Windsor, United Kingdom, from August 25-30, 2009 and the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games to be held in Kentucky, USA, from September 25-October 10, 2010. For more information, visit www.alltech.com and www.alltechfeigames.com.