Muhammad Ali Center has Connection to NBC's "The Celebrity Apprentice"
Lennox Lewis Facing Off for the Ali Center - on the Streets of New York and in the Boardroom
Premiere Airs Thursday, January 3, 9 p.m. ET
All-Star Lineup
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Lennox Lewis, standing third from the right, in the back row, poses with the Celebrity Apprentice contestants and judges Ivanka, Donald Trump, and Donald, Jr. |
LOUISVILLE – Friday, December 28, 2007 – While NBC and Donald Trump return to New York City with "The Celebrity Apprentice," the Muhammad Ali Center will be rooting from afar for one of the contestants—three-time heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis—who chose the Ali Center as his charity/501(c)3 organization for the show. "The Celebrity Apprentice" with host Donald Trump begins on Thursday, January 3 (9:00PM ET).
Unlike past programs, contestants will not be vying for a job with Trump. Instead, the business-savvy celebrity contestants will be working towards a greater goal -- as they raise over a million dollars for their various charities throughout the season. Not only will the final winner be crowned the first ‘Celebrity Apprentice,’ but he or she will also have the honor of delivering a two-hundred and fifty thousand dollar bonus check to their designated charity.
Lewis, who is a donor to the Center, has called Muhammad Ali his “hero since the beginning” and was on hand for the 2005 dedication and grand opening of the Ali Center, located in Louisville, Kentucky.
Mike Fox, President/CEO of the Ali Center said, "It comes as no surprise to learn that Lennox Lewis, of any athlete of great accomplishment in the world, would be again showing his generosity and thoughtfulness to his mentor, Muhammad Ali, and his international center. Lennox has been singularly the most supportive professional athlete anywhere in having helped Muhammad's dream be realized.”
“While Lennox may attribute the athlete and human being he is today to what he has learned over his lifetime from ‘The Champ’ in and outside the ring,” Fox continued, “may viewers of the Celebrity Apprentice learn from and be inspired by the unselfish choice Lennox made to designate the Muhammad Ali Center as his charity deserving of his financial winnings on the show. Lennox, our good friend, we are looking to you to answer the 15th round bell one more time and be victorious for the benefit of the Ali Center!"
Fourteen celebrities will be competing in business driven tasks around New York City, using their fame along with their proven business acumen to win challenges, while ultimately raising money and awareness for their respective causes.
Just as in the regular "Apprentice," the celebrities will be subjected to long hours, grueling mental challenges, personality clashes, and intense scrutiny -- all without the help of their regular support system of agents, managers, and personal assistants.
Certain tasks encourage the contestants to reach out to their network of celebrity contacts for assistance or donations -- making for entertaining surprise visits by some of the world's biggest stars along the way.
“This will be the most exciting season of ‘The Apprentice’ yet – maybe even better than Season One,” said Donald J. Trump, executive producer of ‘The Celebrity Apprentice.’ “I promise you a fantastic new season!”
"We're back, and in our old time slot. The series is epic and Donald is on fire!" Said Mark Burnett, executive producer of ‘The Celebrity Apprentice.’
THE CANDIDATES
Each celebrity contestant was handpicked for their balance of notoriety and business skills.
In addition to Lennox Lewis, the celebrity contestants are: Trace Adkins, Carol Alt, Stephen Baldwin, Nadia Comaneci, Tiffany Fallon, Jennie Finch, Nely Galan, Marilu Henner, Omarosa, Piers Morgan, Tito Ortiz, Vincent Pastore, and Gene Simmons.
For more information on the candidates and “the Celebrity Apprentice”, please visit http://www.nbc.com/The_Celebrity_Apprentice/.