10.28.22
MEDIA ADVISORY
Ali Center announces Days of Greatness, lead up to Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards
Louisville community invited to join in celebrating week of Greatness
LOUISVILLE, KY (October 28, 2022) — As part of the celebration surrounding the 9th Annual Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards, the Muhammad Ali Center will host Days of Greatness, with events leading up to next Saturday night’s event.
Days of Greatness kicks off with YOUth Are the Greatest, a night of programming for Louisville Youth at the Ali Center. The event goes from 6-9 p.m. on Wednesday night, November 2nd. It will include food, prizes, performances, and local vendors. DJ Jay Stew will be a featured performer, and young people will enjoy free access to the Ali Center’s exhibits. The event is free, but registration is encouraged. For more information, email ahazley@alicenter.org.
Later that week, the Muhammad Ali Center and University of Louisville will collaborate on an open forum event featuring our Six Core Principle awardees. Powered by the University of Louisville Ali Institute, the panel discussion will include several impressive young people speaking on their individual social justice work. That forum will take place on Friday, November 4, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at UofL’s Thornton Academic Center (located at Cardinal Stadium.) JCPS is collaborating on this effort, and will have several schools represented at the forum.
These events lead up to Saturday night’s Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards, which will celebrate those individuals working in Muhammad Ali’s spirit to fight for social justice and equality. The core principle awardees featured at that event are six young, international humanitarians doing work in their countries and communities which embodies one of Muhammad Ali’s Six core principles: Confidence, Conviction, Dedication, Giving, Respect, and Spirituality.
Gitanjali Rao, 17 (United States) will be awarded for Confidence, this after being named the first-ever Time Magazine Kid of the Year. Rao’s inventions help to detect lead content in water, provide early diagnosis of prescription opioid addiction, and counter cyberbullying.
Lefteris Arapakis, 28 (Greece) receives the Conviction Award for his work combatting pollution in the Mediterranean Sea. Arapakis’s organization, Enaleia, teaches fisherman to clean plastic out of the sea. Mohamad Al Jounde, 23 (Syria) will be honored for his Dedication to education. His work gives 200 children access to education through his Gharsah School in Lebanon. Liam Elkind, 22 (United States) is a Yale College senior receiving the Giving Award. During the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic, Elkind co-founded Invisible Hands to help ensure food access and medical supplies to at-risk community members.
2016-17 NBA Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon, 29 (United States) will be recognized for his work in Tanzania and around the world with the Respect Award. Brogdon helps lead the Brogdon Family Foundation, which works toward access to clean water and quality education for all people. South Sudanese activist Lual Mayen rounds out the Core Principle slate for his work around the world to fight for refugee and migrant rights. Lual founded Junub Games to help teach kids the importance of peace through video games.
Events:
YOUth Are the Greatest: Wednesday Nov. 2, 6-9 p.m.
UofL Institute Core Principle Awardees Forum: Friday Nov 4., 11:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m.
Notes to Media:
Credential requests for the Humanitarian Awards close on MONDAY!
Please submit your information here: https://alicenter.org/awards/media-credential-form/ by Monday, October 31.
Photos of awardees available upon request.
The Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards are made possible through the generous support of our Silver Sponsors, Brown Forman, as well as our Table Sponsors, and all the individuals who have supported this event.
Contact:
Annie Moore
Muhammad Ali Center
502.992.5338 or 812.786.1072 mobile
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