Muhammad Ali’s Celebrity Fight Night XIV rubbed elbows with stars of movies, music, sports
Muhammad Ali‘s Celebrity Fight Night XIV rubbed elbows with stars of movies, music, sports
Guests at Muhammad Ali’s Celebrity Fight Night XIV on Saturday rubbed elbows with numerous stars from varied walks of life.
Among the celebrities in attendance at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa were the recipients of four awards named for the “Champ” himself: actor Kevin Costner, music mogul Clive Davis, singer Reba McEntire and NFL running back LaDainian Tomlinson.
McEntire, emcee for the evening, was introduced by country-music star Faith Hill.
About 1,300 guests attended the star-studded event. Grammy Award winner John Mellencamp kicked off the musical entertainment. Dionne Warwick, Arizona American Idol Jordin Sparks and comedian Sinbad also entertained.
The stars brought out the bidders in the live auction, with a range of celebrity-laden packages from a day on the golf course with Phil Mickelson and a power lunch with Donald Trump to dinner with Ali.
Founded in 1994 by Jimmy Walker, Celebrity Fight Night benefits the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix as well as several other charities.
Board of Visitors Charity Ball
The Board of Visitors’ tradition of presenting supporters’ daughters at the springtime Charity Ball continued Saturday evening. About 1,400 friends and family members attended the black-tie evening at the Camelback Inn, a JW Marriott Resort & Spa in Paradise Valley.
The 50 flower girls, dressed in white gowns, were escorted by their fathers and other family members. Six of the young women represent the second or third generation of flower girls in their families. One Board of Visitors debutante this year, Allie Smith, is the daughter of Andrea Smith, who was a debutante in the 1980s. Attendees were also multigenerational. Dr. Ted Diethrich and his wife, Gloria, enjoyed watching the presentation of two granddaughters, Courtney Diethrich, daughter of Tobi Corns and Tad Diethrich, and Mackenzie Jackson, daughter of Lynne and Joe Jackson. Other proud grandparents included Audrie and Joe Garagiola Sr., who came for the presentation of their granddaughter, Natalie, daughter of Noel and Joe Garagiola Jr. Following the presentation and dinner, the band Snake Eyes brought dancers to the floor. Gwen Connor chaired the ball. Money raised at the event benefits Valley charities supported by the 100-year-old Board of Visitors’ mission of supporting the health-care needs of women, children and the elderly.
Free Arts of Arizona
More than 570 guests attended the seventh annual Art Heals Luncheon Wednesday at the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort. The event, chaired by Brooke Christofferson, benefits the programs of Free Arts of Arizona.
Guests enjoyed a “Stomp” performance by 17 young people served by the organization. Mark Feldman, vice president of development for Free Arts, noted that the “arts are not a luxury; they are a necessity in children’s lives.” Volunteers and clients inspired the luncheon crowd with success stories that supported Feldman’s statement. Free Arts of Arizona provides opportunities for artistic expression to 6,000 children every year. Its goal is to double that number by 2012. The non-profit agency has almost 400 volunteers and has touched the lives of 56,000 children since 1993.
Muhammad Ali‘s Celebrity Fight Night XIV rubbed elbows with stars of movies, music, sports – Editing by Jennifer Lu
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