$7.2 Million Raised at Muhammad Ali's Celebrity FIGHT NIGHT XIX

On Saturday, March 23, stars and athletes from around the country converged on the J.W.   Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona for Muhammad   Ali’s Celebrity Fight Night XIX. The evening opened with the singing of   the National Anthem by the Phoenix Boys Choir in which a rare Bald   Eagle was released into the room. GRAMMY® Award winning leading lady of   country music Reba McEntire returned for her eighth year as emcee,   kicking off the night by introducing a special performance by Steve Martin   & The Steep Canyon Rangers. With Muhammad Ali on stage, international   superstar Jennifer Lopez, actor and musician Steve Martin, and   philanthropist and owner of the Washington Companies Dennis Washington,   were honored with the 2013 Muhammad Ali Celebrity Fight Night Awards. The   awards portion of the evening concluded with a special video tribute to   Muhammad and Lonnie Ali from legendary musician Paul McCartney.

Following the awards guests were treated to a host   of performances under the direction of the multiple GRAMMY® Award-winning   songwriter and producer David Foster, who returned for his 14th   consecutive year as the evening’s Musical Director. Performers included Billy   Ray Cyrus who sang “Hillbilly Heart,” “Achy Breaky Heart,” and “Johnny B.   Goode,” along with American Idol finalist Haley Reinhart who   sang her rendition of “Bennie and The Jets.” Actress and musician Rita   Wilson returned to the Celebrity Fight Night stage to perform   “Personally,” followed by the winner ofThe X Factor, Tate Stevens,   who sang “I Got This,” and “Power of a Love Song” for the crowd. Andrea   Bocelli gave an unforgettable performance including songs “Ave Maria,”   “Funiculì, Funiculà,” Elvis Presley’s “Love Me Tender,” “O sole mio,” “Con Te   Partirò,” and a special duet of “Quizás Quizás Quizás” with Jennifer Lopez,   marking the first time the duo have ever performed together. Jennifer   Lopez closed out the evening with incredible performances of “Get Right,”   “Love Don’t Cost a Thing,” “Club Tropicana,” “Let’s Get Loud” and “On the   Floor.”

The black tie 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 a dinner with Reba   McEntire at her Beverly Hills, CA home, with special guests Tom Hanks, Rita   Wilson and David Foster, which went for a total of $800,000 – two bidders   paying $400,000 each. Tom Hanks also threw in two tickets to his upcoming   Broadway show “Lucky Guy” plus a backstage meet and greet via phone to seal   the bids. Also included in the auction was a week-long trip to Tuscany plus a   special VIP performance by Andrea Bocelli followed by a private dinner with   the musician himself, which sold for $550,000. Celebrity Fight Night XIX   raised a total of $7.2 million benefiting the Muhammad Ali Parkinson   Center at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, as well as numerous other   charities. Each year dozens of celebrity guests attend the event that has   raised $87 million dollars in 19 years.

Additional celebrity guests included Billy   Crystal, Yank Barry, Jerry Colangelo, Bo Derek, Keith   Harkin, Evander Holyfield, Mannie Jackson, Michael Johns,   Nancy Lieberman, Mario Lopez, Nick Lowery, Harvey   Mackay, Joe Manganiello, Sam Moore, Frankie Muniz, Lute   Olson, Chris Rich, Ralph Sampson, Kevin Sorbo, Verne   Troyer, Kenny Williams and many more.

About Celebrity Fight Night

Celebrity Fight Night Foundation is a non-profit   organization that was founded in 1994 by Jimmy Walker and supports the   Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, as   well as numerous other charities. www.celebrityfightnight.org.

Sponsors of this year’s event included CA   Technologies, GoDaddy.com, Moët   Hennessy, USA   Today Sports Media Group, M Group Scenic Studios, Belvedere Vodka and PRO EM