Muhammad Ali Receives Freedom Award at Afghanistan World Foundation Benefit

(Beverly Hills, CA - December 3, 2003) - Last night at the St. Regis Hotel in Los Angeles, Muhammad Ali received the Freedom Award at the Time to Give Gala benefiting the Afghanistan World Foundation. The stars came out--by the dozens--to support this important cause, where one-of-a-kind Audemars Piguet timepieces engraved with celebrity signatures were auctioned off. Notable figures from film, music, sports and politics provided their signatures to benefit the Foundation; the live auction raised approximately $700,000. The AWF will use these funds to help rebuild educational and health care systems in Afghanistan, with an emphasis on children and family services.

"Muhammad Ali has traveled in Afghanistan on behalf of the United Nations (November 2002)," said Sonia Cole, founder of AWF, "and his efforts earned him the love and respect of the Afghan people." Cole, who previously gave the Freedom Award to President Reagan in 1992, added, "Muhammad Ali has set the standard: one person does have the power to make a difference to millions of people. His concern for those who are in need and suffering crosses oceans and cultures and reaches hearts."

The Time to Give Gala featured performances by Natalie Cole, Stevie Wonder, and Chaka Khan. Other notables in the audience included: Adrien Brody, Tom Cruise, Penelope Cruz, Benicio Del Toro, Celine Dion, Faith Hill, Helen Hunt, President Hamid Karzai, Henry Kissinger, Jessica Lange, Julianne Moore, Shaquille O'Neal, Al Pacino, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Charlize Theron, Sigourney Weaver, and more.