Star-studded event raises millions for MAPC and others
On Saturday, March 20, 2010 stars and athletes from around the country converged on the J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, AZ for Muhammad Ali’s Celebrity Fight Night XVI.
Grammy-award winning producer and American Idol judge Randy Jackson made a special introduction of Muhammad Ali who celebrates his 50th year on the world stage in 2010.
With Muhammad Ali on stage, producer Jerry Weintraub was presented with the Muhammad Ali Celebrity Fight Night Humanitarian Award, celebrated race car driver Danica Patrick received the Sports Achievement Award, and businessman and philanthropist Walter Scott Jr. received the Muhammad Ali Celebrity Fight Night Entrepreneur Award. GRAMMY® Award winning leading lady of country music, Reba McEntire returned for her fifth year as emcee and performed a four song set for the enthusiastic room.
The packed crowd was also treated to a host of performances under the direction of multiple GRAMMY® Award winning musical director David Foster including former American Idol contestant Michael Johns, Charice and The Canadian Tenors. Sam Moore took the stage with 8-year old violinist Brianna Kahane to perform a touching rendition of “Danny Boy” and after a generous bidder offered $25,000 to hear him sing one of his signature songs he surprised the audience with a performance of “Soul Man” which prompted Randy Jackson to join him on stage to play bass.
Comedians Chris Tucker and Melissa Peterman also entertained the crowd with jokes and impromptu performances throughout the evening. GRAMMY® Award winning Glenn Frey of the legendary Eagles closed out the show with a five song set.
The event also featured cocktails, a silent auction, an elegant dinner and an exciting live auction featuring one-of-a-kind luxury items. The live auction featured items such as dinner at Reba McEntire’s Beverly Hills, CA home, a vacation in Tuscany and dinner with Andrea Bocelli ,and dinner in Los Angeles with Billy Crystal and Robin Williams.
Celebrity Fight Night XVI raised a total of $5 million benefitting the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, as well as several other worthy charities. Each year dozens of celebrity guests attend the event that has raised nearly $65 million dollars in 16 years.
