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Trip to Garner Support for the Alltech-Muhammad Ali Center Global Education and Charitable Fund and the Muhammad Ali Center
Louisville, KY (August 24, 2009) – Four decades have passed since he challenged Brian London and Henry Cooper in London and Al ‘Blue’ Lewis in Dublin. Last night, boxing champion, humanitarian, and global icon Muhammad Ali and his wife Lonnie left for Europe to take on a new and equally profound fight, a fight in the name of benevolence. The Alis will be making appearances in the United Kingdom and Ireland to inspire support for the recently established Alltech - Muhammad Ali Center Global Education and Charitable Fund as well as the Muhammad Ali Center (www.alicenter.org) in Louisville, Ky. It will be their first visit back to Europe in several years.
The Alis’ time in the United Kingdom will be highlighted by a special appearance at the Alltech World Equestrian Games Gala Night on Friday, August 28th, during the Alltech FEI European Jumping and Dressage Championships 2009 at Windsor Castle (August 25-30, 2009); a fundraising dinner in Manchester at Old Trafford Manchester United Football ground on August 26th (for ticket information, visit http://www.mammothevents.co.uk); and a luncheon appearance at Britannia Stadium in Stoke-on-Trent on August 27th.
In Ireland, the Alis will take part in “An Evening with the Greatest,” a Dublin-based fundraising event for the Alltech – Muhammad Ali Center Global Education and Charitable Fund. Mr. Ali will also lay down the first brick at the dedication of Dublin’s AVIVA Stadium.
The Irish portion of the trip is particularly significant to Muhammad Ali, whose great-grandfather Abe Grady lived in County Clare. Ali will be retracing the steps of his Irish ancestor in the town of Ennis, where as many as 70,000 people are expected to fill the streets in welcome.
“There is a tremendous sense of anticipation and excitement in Europe tonight as they await their hero’s arrival, and, as an Irishman, it is a profound honor for me to be involved in The Greatest’s reconnection with his Irish heritage,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, president and founder of Alltech.
Muhammad and Lonnie Ali hope the trip will raise awareness of the Alltech-Muhammad Ali Center Global Education and Charitable Fund and the Muhammad Ali Center, which they co-founded in their hometown of Louisville, Kentucky in 2005.
The Alltech-Muhammad Ali Center Global Education and Charitable Fund was created in partnership with global animal health and nutrition company Alltech to help establish community-based humanitarian and educational programs. The goals of the Fund are to provide leadership and character education; educational scholarships for arts; natural science and humanitarian endeavors; elementary school science labs; relief and support during world crises; and encouragement in the pursuit of excellence and personal greatness. Mr. and Mrs. Ali also hope that their visit will educate audiences about the mission of the Muhammad Ali Center and its global initiatives for social responsibility, respect, and personal growth.
Greg Roberts, president and CEO of the Ali Center said, “Muhammad’s legacy is significant to people around the globe, and his ideals are inspirational to every layer of humanity. The Ali Center’s goals reflect our founder’s core values and are a springboard for learning. It is very meaningful for the Alis and the Ali Center to partner with Alltech to reach some of our common educational and charitable goals.”
Still a fighter, Ali now focuses much of his time and effort on raising awareness and support for the Muhammad Ali Center, the Fund, and the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center in Phoenix, Az. Ali’s work has taken him across continents—hand delivering food and medical supplies to such needy sites as the Harapan Kita Hospital for Children in Jakarta, Indonesia; the street children of Morocco; and Sister Beltran’s orphanage for Liberian refugees in the Ivory Coast, to name just a few.
For further information on the Irish fundraising event, “An Evening with the Greatest” please contact Christina Lombard: Telephone: +353 1 825 2244; Email: clombard@alltech.com
The Muhammad Ali Center’s UK partner for events in Stoke and Manchester is Mammoth Events and Management Limited, based in London. For more information or to purchase tickets for the Manchester event, visit www.mammothevents.co.uk or contact Stephen Beverley at steve@mammothevent.co.uk.
Notes to Editor:
The Muhammad Ali Center
The Muhammad Ali Center is a cultural attraction and international education center that is inspired by the ideals of Muhammad Ali. Featuring an award-winning visitor experience, educational and public programming and global initiatives, the Ali Center reaches beyond its physical walls to fulfil its mission: To preserve and share the legacy and ideals of Muhammad Ali, to promote respect, hope and understanding, and to inspire adults and children everywhere to be as great as they can be.
Alltech
Founded by Irishman, Dr. Pearse Lyons, Alltech is a global animal health and nutrition company with over 28 years’ experience in developing natural products that are scientifically proven to enhance animal health and performance. Headquartered in Kentucky, USA, Alltech trades in 113 countries and has over 1,900 employees worldwide.
Alltech is the proud sponsor of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010™ to be held in Kentucky, USA, from the September 25 - October 10, 2010, and the Alltech FEI European Championships to be held in Windsor, United Kingdom, from August 25-30, 2009.
For more information, visit: www.alltech.com, www.alltechwindsoreuropeans.com and www.alltechfeigames.com.
Alltech-Muhammad Ali Center Global Education and Charitable Fund
The Alltech-Muhammad Ali Center Global Education and Charitable Fund, which was announced in May of this year during Alltech’s International Animal Health and Nutrition Symposium, aims to further the educational and charitable goals of both institutions. Alltech and the Muhammad Ali Center are working together to produce and promote a number of charitable activities leading up to and coinciding with the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky in 2010™.
Press Contacts:
Susanna Elliott Jeanie Kahnke
Public Relations Vice President for Communications
Alltech Corporate Headquarters Muhammad Ali Center
3031 Catnip Hill Pike 144 North Sixth Street
Nicholasville, Kentucky Louisville, Kentucky
United States United States
Telephone: (859) 887-5144 Telephone: (502) 992-5301
Mobile: (859) 473-2696 Mobile (502) 442-3468
Email: SuElliott@alltech.com Email: jkahnke@alicenter.org
Web site : www.alltech.com Website: www.alicenter.org