LOUISVILLE, KY, Feb. 22, 2024 – The Muhammad Ali Center, a cultural cornerstone for Louisville and the nation, officially began its search for a new CEO Thursday, as outgoing president and CEO Marilyn Jackson advances to join the American Alliance of Museums as their next president and CEO.

“I am deeply grateful for the privilege of serving as the president and CEO of the Muhammad Ali Center. Ali, a global icon, dedicated his life to the pursuit of justice, inspiring positive change worldwide. It has been an immense honor to be a part of this legacy,” Jackson said. “Louisville is fortunate to have the Center, and I extend my heartfelt thanks to all those who supported us since the Center’s founding in 2005. I have full confidence and trust this great institution will continue the progress we’ve made together.”

Over her two years at the Center, Jackson focused on creating and implementing a strategic plan, with influence from community leaders. This roadmap for the Center’s success supported the creation of new educational programs, expanded partnerships at the local and global levels, and attracted new corporate partners and philanthropists who have provided resources to improve the physical space. Now, more than 100,000 visitors connect with the mission of the Center each year, advancing the legacy of Muhammad Ali and his wife Lonnie Ali.

“Marilyn was instrumental in creating a new path forward for the center, reenergizing our initial mission: to promote positive social change through education, community, and Muhammad’s legacy,” Lonnie Ali said. “As we begin our search for a new CEO, I am confident our transition team will find the best leaders our communities have to offer.”

The Center’s transition team is chaired by Nicole Yates with members including Lonnie Ali, Greg Fischer, Ingrid Gentry, Bennie Ivory, and Stephen Reily. This team will identify potential applicants over the coming weeks. Those who are interested in the position can learn more and apply here.

“Marilyn Jackson brought a wide range of skills to the Ali Center, and her success in Louisville was noticed by the nation. She is now assuming one of the most important museum jobs in the country, supporting the 35,000 museums and museum professionals who are members of the American Alliance of Museums,” said Stephen Reily, a former member of the Ali Center Board of Trustees, former director of the Speed Art Museum, and founding director of the Remuseum Project.

Jackson will soon begin her role as president and CEO of the American Alliance of Museums, after an extensive nationwide search. “It’s been an honor to chair the search committee for AAM’s next leader,” said Dr. Chevy Humphrey, President and CEO of the Museum of Science and Industry Chicago. “In Marilyn, we found a visionary and transformative leader that will help drive AAM to new and different heights; that much has been proven by her lasting impact at the Muhammad Ali Center.”

Jackson will remain in her current position at the Center for several weeks, supporting the transition team in their search for the next leader for one of Louisville’s greatest cultural institutions.

###

The Muhammad Ali Center is a 501(c)3 corporation, cofounded by Muhammad Ali and his wife Lonnie in their hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. The international cultural center promotes the Six Core Principles of Muhammad Ali (Confidence, Conviction, Dedication, Giving, Respect, and Spirituality) in ways that inspire personal and global greatness and provides programming and events around the focus areas of education, racial and gender equity, and global citizenship. The Ali Center is formally associated with the United Nations Department of Global Communications, and in 2020, became one of the newest stops on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. The Center’s headquarters also contains an award-winning museum experience. For more information, please visit www.alicenter.org.

02.14.24

MEDIA ADVISORY

Ali Center announces 2024 Daughters of Greatness honorees

Four local women to be honored through annual breakfast series

LOUISVILLE, KY (February 14, 2024) – The Muhammad Ali Center is proud to share a slate of local honorees that exemplify the principles of Muhammad Ali, the Greatest of All Time.

The first honoree of the season will be Laura Douglas on February 16. Douglas is a highly respected leader in the corporate, legal, education, and social justice communities. In addition to her ten years of service on the Muhammad Ali Center’s Board of Directors, she led the organization for three years as its Chairperson, as well as becoming the Center’s Interim President and CEO from 2021 to 2022. She is currently an Emeritus Member on the Center’s Executive Committee.

On April 12, the Center will honor Yvette Gentry. Gentry has been serving as the Director of Resident and Community Safety for LDG Development since July 2022. LDG is a leading developer who builds quality affordable housing across the country. This role has given her the opportunity to use her skills, experience, and education to work on a mission that is close to her heart.

She spent the previous four years working in the nonprofit space as Executive Director of the Rajon Rondo Foundation and Director of Justice and Opportunity for Metro United Way Louisville. Gentry made history in 2020 as the first woman to lead the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) when she took on the role as interim Police Chief.

As part of Ali Festival 2024, the Center is proud to honor Whitney Austin on June 7. Impassioned after surviving the Sept. 6, 2018, mass shooting in Cincinnati, Ohio, Whitney cofounded Whitney/Strong with her husband, an organization focused on finding common ground to end gun violence through data-driven, responsible gun ownership solutions.

Under her leadership, Whitney/Strong has executed several responsible gun ownership solutions including securing the first two hearings on gun safety legislation in Frankfort in over a decade. Joining Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to announce the STRONG Ohio legislation, a response to the community call of “Do Something” after the Dayton Oregon District shooting in 2019.

And on September 13, the Center will honor Marissa Castellanos. Castellanos is Founder and Director of The Coterie, providing training, technical assistance, resource development, and project formation and implementation related to anti-human trafficking and intersecting issues. Castellanos is a member of the Technical Working Group for the National Standards of Care for Anti-Trafficking Service Providers, a project implemented by Freedom Network USA and supported by the DOJ Office for Victims of Crime and the ACF Office on Trafficking in Persons.

As Director of Grants at Love146, an international human rights organization that addresses child trafficking and exploitation through prevention and survivor care programming, Castellanos provides leadership and support for grant management. Prior to Love146, Marissa worked at Catholic Charities of Louisville where she began in 2008 developing what is now known as the Bakhita Empowerment Initiative, a statewide program addressing human trafficking through services, prevention, training, and awareness.

Each program will begin at 8:30 a.m. with breakfast and remarks before a keynote from the honoree at 9 a.m. Sponsorship and ticket information is available by contacting Theresa Burridge at tburridge@alicenter.org.

For more information on Daughters of Greatness or any of the Muhammad Ali Center’s programming, visit alicenter.org/our-work.

Contact:

Annie Moore

Muhammad Ali Center

amoore@alicenter.org

(502) 992 – 5338 or (812) 786 – 1072 mobile

01.09.24

MEDIA ADVISORY

Association for Teaching Black History in Kentucky hosting free teacher professional development workshop

BEREA, KY (January 10, 2024) — The Association for Teaching Black History in Kentucky (ATBHK) will host a free teacher professional development workshop on Monday, featuring keynote speaker Karyn Parsons. Parsons is an actress, children’s book author and founder of Sweet Blackberry.

The free workshop will be Monday, Jan. 15 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville.

The ATBHK has created professional development programs in response to the needs communicated by educators across Kentucky. This transformative workshop is crafted to honor the enduring legacy of the legendary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and will be structured around informative breakout sessions taught by ATBHK fellows. Each session is curated to help empower educators to bring Black history into their classrooms.

“Since its inception, ATBHK has worked diligently to provide opportunities for Kentucky teachers to hear from experts in Kentucky’s Black history across the spectrum of K-12 education and beyond,” said Chaka Cummings, ATBHK executive director. “This year’s Martin Luther King Day program will focus on frameworks, lessons and resources educators can immediately use in their spaces. Educators will leave with tools to support effective teaching of Kentucky’s Black history and will have the opportunity to meet with other educators to build professional networks in the name of effective Black history teaching.

“It is critical that educators feel supported and prepared when discussing Black history, and the Association for Teaching Black History in Kentucky has created this program with these two specific goals in mind,” Cummings added.

The Association for Teaching Black History in Kentucky is a collaborative effort with current founding member organizations Berea College, Kentucky State University, The Muhammad Ali Center and Kentucky History Resources, LLC (a subsidiary of the nonprofit Thomas D. Clark Foundation which supports the University Press of Kentucky. The Association was organized in 2022 to recover the social, historical and cultural contributions of Black Kentuckians and to make these materials readily available to teachers in the Commonwealth, thereby promoting quality K-12 instruction in history. The goal is to ensure an inclusive, respectful experience for all students that provides for their academic success.

For more information about the ATBHK, click here.

Registration for the workshop is required. For more information, including registration and a schedule of events, visit https://19291.blackbaudhosting.com/19291/MLK-Day-Professional-Development.

01.08.24

MEDIA ADVISORY

Ali Center offers free admission as part of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration

LOUISVILLE, KY (January 8, 2024) — The Muhammad Ali Center is proud to announce a full slate of programming in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Admission to the Center will be free for everyone on Monday, January 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and includes access to all exhibits.

Starting at 10 a.m., there will be a screening of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech at the top of each hour. The 12 p.m. screening will be followed by a Muhammad Ali Center Council of Students panel “Continuing the Dream, Continuing the Legacy.” The panel is designed to encourage discussion on Dr. King’s message of equality, justice and peace, as well as realizing his dream in today’s culture.

The Muhammad Ali Center offers free admission to all as part of our Community Free Day series, sponsored by Passport by Molina Healthcare. The Center strives to decrease barriers of access to local residents and expand knowledge of Muhammad Ali in hopes to forward his legacy for future generations.

In addition, the Center is collaborating with the Association for Teaching Black History in Kentucky to offer a free professional development for teachers on Monday, January 15. This free, full-day workshop features informative breakout sessions to help empower educators in bringing Black history into their classrooms.

The workshop features a keynote address by Karyn Parsons; actor (best known for her work on the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air), author, and founder of the Sweet Blackberry production company.

Additional promotions will also be offered to visitors on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in preparation for Muhammad Ali’s birthday on Wednesday, January 17.

More information on this and other upcoming events at the Muhammad Ali Center can be found at https://alicenter.org/events/.

12.07.23

MEDIA ADVISORY

Bats and Ali Center Unveil Limited Edition Muhammad Ali Bobblehead

LOUISVILLE, KY (December 7, 2023) — The Louisville Bats, in partnership with the Muhammad Ali Center, today unveiled a limited edition Muhammad Ali bobblehead as part of a press conference in the “Train with Ali” exhibit at the Ali Center. The bobblehead is an exclusive gift available to anyone purchasing a Bats season ticket package of five games or more for 2024. As part of the Bats’ partnership with the Ali Center, a portion of each ticket package including a bobblehead will be donated back to the center.

“Muhammad loved the Bats, and I continue to cheer them on as a great representation of our city’s rich athletic history,” said Lonnie Ali. “We love baseball, and especially the Bats. I fondly remember visits we made to the locker room to meet young players and how much it meant to them, and us. I hope fans young and old come out, support the Center and the Team, and learn why this team means so much to our family and the City of Ali.”

“We are truly grateful for the unwavering dedication of the Bats to the Muhammad Ali Center,” added Ali Center President and CEO Marilyn Jackson. “Their consistent involvement in every Ali Festival showcases their commitment to the Ali Center. Thanks to the efforts led by Greg Galiette and the Bats organization, proceeds from this campaign will play a pivotal role in supporting our teen programs, which are free to the community.”

In addition, special edition Muhammad Ali-themed hats are available now in the Bats Team Store. A portion of each hat sold will also be donated back to the Ali Center. The hats are white with a black bill and feature Louisville across the front in black, invoking memories of the Champ’s iconic ring trunks.

”We’re grateful to our friends at the Ali Center and to Lonnie for helping make this tribute to The Champ possible,” said Bats President Greg Galiette. “Our team is also happy to be able to send some of the proceeds from the bobblehead, as well as the hat, back to the Center. Muhammad loved baseball and the Bats and it was always a thrill to see our players in awe during his visits to the clubhouse.”

The Bats will once again host an Ali Festival Night in 2024 to help kick off the slate of events celebrating the life and legacy of The Greatest. A promotional schedule with the finalized date, as well as all 2024 game promotions will be available soon.

Bobbleheads will be exclusive gifts to fans who purchase any ticket package of five games or more. Buddy’s Best Five features five top promotions for the 2024 season, beginning with Opening Night on Friday, March 29 vs. Indianapolis at 7:15 p.m.

11.15.23

MEDIA ADVISORY

Muhammad Ali Center honors Metro United Way President and CEO Adria Johnson as Daughter of Greatness

Johnson has more than three decades of experience serving communities in Louisville and across the commonwealth

LOUISVILLE, KY (November 15, 2023) — The Muhammad Ali Center is honoring a leader in the Louisville community and a friend of the Center, Adria Johnson, as a Daughter of Greatness on Friday, November 17.

The special presentation takes place at the Ali Center beginning at 9 a.m.

The Center’s Daughters of Greatness program honors women who are changemakers in social philanthropy, activism and pursuits of justice. Women selected as Daughters of Greatness embody Muhammad Ali’s core values and inspire others to work toward a more just and compassionate world.

Johnson currently serves as President and CEO of Metro United Way. She became the first Black woman to lead Metro United Way in its 100+ year history in July 2021 and was recently announced as one of Louisville’s Most Admired CEOs by Louisville Business First. 

Johnson’s career of bringing services to local communities and lifting some of society’s most vulnerable populations spans more than three decades in both public and private sectors.

“This is one of those lifetime ‘full circle moments’ for me and I am humbled beyond words to be connected to the legacy of a great man who changed the world,” Johnson said. “The work of Metro United Way, alongside our partners, team members and supporters, is very much in alignment with the vision of the Muhammad Ali Center, and I hope to use this platform to inspire greatness in those we serve in the community.”

“Adria Johnson is a leader whose compassion, empathy, and commitment to Louisville mirror Muhammad Ali’s legacy of service to our community,” Erin Herbert, Senior Director of Education & Curation with the Muhammad Ali Center said. “We are honored to name her as our next Daughter of Greatness.”

Johnson has been instrumental in leading Metro United Way through its transition from a community chest model to one of transformative impact. The organization’s priorities today are to help kids thrive, ensure households are strong, and that our entire community is equitable. 

This work includes neighborhood revitalization support, preventive and developmental services for children before they enter kindergarten, comprehensive services for youth-serving organizations, volunteer engagement, employment opportunities and workforce development, public policy efforts, among others.

Johnson was previously the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Community Based Services and held key roles in Louisville Metro Government before working in state government. She has leveraged from her robust career experience and lived experience to create a more equitable impact and investment model at Metro United Way.

This year’s final Daughters of Greatness event has the largest attendance in the program’s history, due to Johnson’s tremendous outreach and impact in the community through Metro United Way and beyond.

Additional information on the Center’s Daughters of Greatness program, including how to make nominations for the 2024 series, can be found at https://alicenter.org/daughters-of-greatness/.

Contact:

Dustin Vogt

Muhammad Ali Center

dvogt@alicenter.org

502.992.5330

11.04.23

MEDIA ADVISORY

Muhammad Ali Center celebrates 10th annual Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards

Awardees included KIND Bars CEO, Innocence Project co-founder, LMPD Officer, HollyRod Foundation

LOUISVILLE, KY (November 4, 2023) — The 10th annual Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards took place Saturday, November 4, and boasted another esteemed panel of honorees.

The Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards are the Center’s largest annual fundraiser and incorporate two categories: Seasoned Awards, honoring individuals who have dedicated a significant portion of their lives to humanitarianism, and Six Core Principles Awards, presented to young adults 30 years of age or younger.

KIND founder Daniel Lubetzky received the first-ever Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award for Civility & Compassion for his social entrepreneurship and empowering people to overcome extreme beliefs and division. Lubetzky, the son of a Holocaust survivor, founded the OneVoice Movement, an international grassroots effort to amplify the voices of moderate Israelis and Palestinians to resolve conflict. His other philanthropic organizations include Starts With Us, the KIND Foundation, Feed the Truth, and more. He’s also a recurring Shark on ABC’s Shark Tank.

Jason Flom received the Muhammad Ali Lifetime Achievement Award. Flom is the Founder and CEO of Lava Records,and Lava Media, LLC, and the former chairman and CEO of Atlantic Records and Virgin Records, Jason is an outspoken advocate for the wrongfully convicted. Through his work co-founding the Innocence Project and with Families Against Mandatory Minimums, he’s raised significant awareness and funds toward criminal justice reform. He hosts the hit podcast Wrongful Convictions and serves as a board member of numerous criminal justice reform organizations.

Actress Holly Robinson Peete and her husband, former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete, received the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian of the Year Award. The couple founded the HollyRod Foundation to raise awareness and provide resources to families with a loved one who has received an autism or Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis. The Peetes were inspired to start the foundation to honor Holly’s father, actor Matthew T. Robinson Jr., who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease at the age of 45, and their son RJ, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. The couple works to provide compassionate care for families and empower individuals to live their best lives.

This year’s Kentuckian of the Year Award was given to Officer Nickolas Wilt of the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD), who was one of the first officers on the scene of the Old National Bank shooting earlier this year. Wilt, who was severely wounded in the incident, was motivated to join LMPD to serve and protect his community while educating and providing aid to those in need. He previously worked as a local firefighter and dispatcher, and with Oldham County EMS.

That award was presented by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear to Wilt and his brothers, who were all in attendance.

“Officer Wilt, I can never put into words just how thankful I am for you, your bravery, and your sacrifice,” Governor Beshear said. “You are a true Kentucky hero and we love you.”

Joining those Seasoned Awardees were 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.

Andrew Brennen (25) became the first -ever Kentucky-native Core Principle honoree when he receives the Confidence Award for his work co-founding Kentucky Student Voice. Brennen also co-authored Kentucky HB 236, a bill vying for Kentucky student inclusion. He will be pursuing his law degree from Columbia University in the fall and is a National Geographic Society fellow.

Pashtana Durrani (25) received the Conviction Award for her courageous work as founder of LEARN Afghanistan to educate girls and women in the country. Durrani has educated 7,000 girls and boys in Kandahar and trained more than 80 teachers in digital literacy. She was previously honored by the Malala Fund and among the BBC 100 and Time 100 influence lists.

Anna Luísa Beserra Santos (25) of Brazil received the Dedication award for her work to provide safe drinking water, handwashing, and sanitation to rural families. She is the founder of Sustainable Water and Development for All and a United Nations “Young Champion of the Earth.”

Nidhi Pant (30) of India received the Giving Award. Pant is the co-founder of S4S Technologies and her work focuses on sustainability and inclusion by empowering women to be climate champions, farmers, and entrepreneurs.

Leon Ford (30) was paralyzed when he was shot by police officers during a traffic stop in Pittsburgh in 2012. He received the Respect Award to honor the work of his organization, the Hear Foundation. Through his collaboration with Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert, Ford’s Hear Foundation tackles issues of gun violence, racial justice, and police reform.

“I accept this award not just as a personal honor, but as a reminder of the work we all have before us,” Ford said. “In the spirit of Muhammad Ali, let us strive for a more just and compassionate world. Let us be champions not just in the ring of our own lives but in the arena of humanity.”

Dr. Daniel Nour (27) became the first Australian awardee when he accepts the Spirituality Award. Dr. Nour founded Street Side Medics – a mobile medical service specifically created for people experiencing homelessness.

The Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards are made possible through the generous support of Brown-Forman, as well as by travel sponsorships from Louisville Tourism and 21C Museum Hotel, and by all the corporate and individual donors who support this event.

Contact:

Annie Moore

Muhammad Ali Center

amoore@alicenter.org

502.992.5338 or 812.786.1072 mobile

10.24.23

MEDIA ADVISORY

Ali Center approaching 10th annual Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards

Governor Beshear to attend, awardees include KIND Bars CEO, Innocence Project co-founder, LMPD Officer, HollyRod Foundation

Details released about November 3, 2023 event with JCPS students, awardees

Credential Application Deadline: Monday, October 30, 2023

LOUISVILLE, KY (October 24, 2023) — The 10th annual Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards will take place Saturday, November 4, and boasts another esteemed panel of honorees.  

Media are reminded that credentials are REQUIRED. They can be applied for at alicenter.org/maha.

The Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards are the Center’s largest annual fundraiser and incorporate two categories: Seasoned Awards, honoring individuals who have dedicated a significant portion of their lives to humanitarianism, and Six Core Principles Awards, presented to young adults 30 years of age or younger.

KIND founder Daniel Lubetzky will receive the first-ever Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award for Civility & Compassion for his social entrepreneurship and empowering people to overcome extreme beliefs and division. Lubetzky, the son of a Holocaust survivor, founded the OneVoice Movement, an international grassroots effort to amplify the voices of moderate Israelis and Palestinians to resolve conflict. His other philanthropic organizations include Starts With Us, the KIND Foundation, Feed the Truth, and more. He’s also a recurring Shark on ABC’s Shark Tank. 

Jason Flom will receive the Muhammad Ali Lifetime Achievement Award. Jason is the Founder and CEO of Lava Records, and Lava Media, LLC, and the former chairman and CEO of Atlantic Records and Virgin Records, Jason is an outspoken advocate for the wrongfully convicted. Through his work co-founding the Innocence Project and with Families Against Mandatory Minimums, he’s raised significant awareness and funds toward criminal justice reform. He hosts the hit podcast Wrongful Convictions and serves as a board member of numerous criminal justice reform organizations. 

Actress Holly Robinson Peete and her husband, former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete, will receive the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian of the Year Award. The couple founded the HollyRod Foundation to raise awareness and provide resources to families with a loved one who has received an autism or Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis. The Peetes were inspired to start the foundation to honor Holly’s father, actor Matthew T. Robinson Jr., who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease at the age of 45, and their son RJ, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. The couple works to provide compassionate care for families and empower individuals to live their best lives. 

This year’s Kentuckian of the Year Award will be given to Officer Nickolas Wilt of the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD), who was one of the first officers on the scene of the Old National Bank shooting earlier this year. Wilt, who was severely wounded in the incident, was motivated to join LMPD to serve and protect his community while educating and providing aid to those in need. He previously worked as a local firefighter and dispatcher, and with Oldham County EMS. 

Joining those Seasoned Awardees will be 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.   

Andrew Brennen (25) will become the first -ever Kentucky-native Core Principle honoree when he receives the Confidence Award for his work co-founding Kentucky Student Voice. Brennen also co-authored Kentucky HB 236, a bill vying for Kentucky student inclusion. He will be pursuing his law degree from Columbia University in the fall and is a National Geographic Society fellow. 

Pashtana Durrani (25) will receive the Conviction Award for her courageous work as founder of LEARN Afghanistan to educate girls and women in the country. Durrani has educated 7,000 girls and boys in Kandahar and trained more than 80 teachers in digital literacy. She was previously honored by the Malala Fund and among the BBC 100 and Time 100 influence lists. 

Anna Luísa Beserra Santos (25) of Brazil will receive the Dedication award for her work to provide safe drinking water, handwashing, and sanitation to rural families. She is the founder of Sustainable Water and Development for All and a United Nations “Young Champion of the Earth.” 

Nidhi Pant (30) of India will receive the Giving Award. Pant is the co-founder of S4S Technologies and her work focuses on sustainability and inclusion by empowering women to be climate champions, farmers, and entrepreneurs. 

Leon Ford (29) was paralyzed when he was shot by police officers during a traffic stop in Pittsburgh in 2012. He will receive the Respect Award to honor the work of his organization, the Hear Foundation. Through his collaboration with Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert, Ford’s Hear Foundation tackles issues of gun violence, racial justice, and police reform. 

Dr. Daniel Nour (27) will become the first Australian awardee when he accepts the Spirituality Award. Dr. Nour founded Street Side Medics – a mobile medical service specifically created for people experiencing homelessness. 

To involve the larger Louisville community and introduce them to the 2023 honorees, the Ali Center will hold a public event on Friday, November 3rd.This will take place at the University of Louisville  and feature the Six Core Principle awardees, as well as more than 150 JCPS students participating in open discussion

Notes to Media:   

Credential requests are now open!   

Please submit your information here: https://alicenter.org/awards/media-credential-form/ by Monday, October 30.   

Photos of awardees available upon request.   

The Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards are made possible through the generous support of Brown-Forman, as well as by travel sponsorships from Louisville Tourism and 21C Museum Hotel, and by all the corporate and individual donors who support this event.   

Contact:

Annie Moore

Muhammad Ali Center

amoore@alicenter.org

502.992.5338 or 812.786.1072 mobile

10.10.23

MEDIA ADVISORY

Muhammad Ali Center website gets six-figure overhaul

New website positions Ali Center as leading authority of Muhammad Ali’s life and legacy

LOUISVILLE, KY (October 10, 2023) — After a year of development and production, the Muhammad Ali Center is proud to unveil the new alicenter.org. This new website is the ultimate source of Muhammad Ali information, and a state-of-the-art hub reflecting the next chapter of the Center. Features of the new site include an in-depth biographical section about Ali and a Learning Hub for educators, as well as the Center’s new membership program.

As the Muhammad Ali Center approaches its 20th anniversary, the team is pleased to present this new, completely redesigned website, reflecting both the vitality of Muhammad Ali and the vibrancy of his legacy being continued in the work of the Ali Center.

Muhammad Ali co-founded the Center with his wife Lonnie in 2005, not only as a repository for his story, but also a hub for inspiring generations of changemakers to create a world where everyone can achieve their own greatness. The Center believes this new online platform continues in that spirit.

“To be a 21st Century destination, we needed to take our web presence to the next level,” Ali Center President and CEO Marilyn Jackson said. “It’s our hope alicenter.org will become a destination for admirers, visitors, and lifelong learners.”

After Center leadership agreed it was time to refresh the website, a new alicenter.org was envisioned during months of research with external and internal stakeholders. The goal was to create an educational and historical resource where people around the world can learn about the legacy of the champion, presented with the same visual panache of Muhammad Ali himself.

“When people visit the museum, often they enter knowing Muhammad Ali the boxer and leave loving Ali the Humanitarian,” Senior Manager of Content and Communications, Annie Moore said. “I truly hope visitors to our new website experience that same journey and learn how much more than a boxer Muhammad was.”

The Center partnered with Chicago-based firm, Field Theory, for the year-long process, which included a complete rework of the website’s user experience, user interface, and site-mapping. The new site features modernized search engine optimization (SEO) and accessibility best practices.

The Ali Center is proud to house the largest online biographical record of the life of Muhammad Ali, including his entire boxing career, his humanitarian efforts around the world, and those in his inner circle. The Ali Center hopes this resource will help educate the next generation about Ali, as well as showing the seasoned fans some things they didn’t know. In addition, the new website will be a home for educators looking to access the Education department’s resources like lesson plans, presentations, and worksheets.

Another feature the Center is proud to highlight is the full integration of the digital museum. The Ali Center’s digital archives house more than 1,000 artifacts and photos telling the story of Ali’s life. It’s the hope of the Ali Center this online resource lowers barriers to access these pieces of history.

Photographs featured on the new website appear courtesy of the Muhammad Ali Center Archives, Authentic Brands Group, Courier Journal, Howard Bingham Estate, Louisville Photographer, Library of Congress, Associated Press, Jeff Julian, Sonia Katchian, LeRoy Neiman Center, Lynn Quail and more.

Contact:

Annie Moore

Muhammad Ali Center

amoore@alicenter.org

502.992.5338 or 812.786.1072 mobile

08.28.23

MEDIA ADVISORY

Ali Center announces 2023 Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award recipients

Awardees include KIND Bars Founder, Innocence Project co-founder, LMPD Officers, HollyRod Foundation

LOUISVILLE, KY (August 28, 2023) — The 10th annual Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards will take place Saturday, November 4, and boasts another esteemed panel of honorees.
The Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards, the Center’s largest annual fundraiser, incorporates two categories: Seasoned Awards, honoring individuals who have dedicated a significant portion of their lives to humanitarianism, and Six Core Principles Awards, presented to young adults 30 years of age or younger.

Daniel Lubetzky, a social entrepreneur best known as the Founder of KIND Snacks, will receive the first-ever Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award for Civility & Compassion for his commitment to building businesses and civic movements that empower people to solve problems together across perceived divides. Lubetzky, the son of a Holocaust survivor, strives to prevent what happened to his father and others from happening again. He conceived civic movements, OneVoice and Starts With Us, to give voice and agency to the vast majority of people who favor common sense solution-building over extreme partisanship and hateful divisiveness. He is also a reoccurring Shark on ABC’s Shark Tank.

Jason Flom will receive the Muhammad Ali Lifetime Achievement Award. Jason is the Founder and CEO of Lava Records, and Lava Media, LLC, and the former chairman and CEO of Atlantic Records and Virgin Records. Jason is an outspoken advocate for the wrongfully convicted. Through his work co-founding the Innocence Project and Families Against Mandatory Minimums, he’s raised significant awareness and funds toward criminal justice reform. He hosts the hit podcast Wrongful Convictions and serves as a board member of numerous criminal justice reform organizations.

Actress Holly Robinson Peete and her husband, former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete, will receive the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian of the Year Award. The couple founded the HollyRod Foundation to raise awareness and provide resources to families with a loved one who has received an autism or Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis. The Peetes were inspired to start the foundation to honor Holly’s father, actor Matthew T. Robinson Jr., who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease at the age of 45, and their son RJ, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. The couple works to provide compassionate care for families and empower individuals to live their best lives.

This year’s Kentuckian of the Year Award will be given to Officer Nickolas Wilt of the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD), who was one of the first officers on the scene of the Old National Bank Shooting earlier this year. Wilt, who was severely wounded in the incident, was motivated to join LMPD to serve and protect his community while educating and providing aid to those in need. He previously worked with Oldham County EMS and as a local firefighter and dispatcher.

Joining those Seasoned Awardees will be 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.

Andrew Brennen (25) will become the first-ever Kentucky-native Core Principle honoree when he receives the Confidence Award for his work co-founding Kentucky Student Voice. Brennen also co-authored Kentucky HB 236, a bill vying for Kentucky student inclusion. He is pursuing his law degree from Columbia University in the Fall and is a National Geographic Society fellow. Pashtana Durrani (25) will receive the Conviction Award for her courageous work as founder of LEARN Afghanistan to educate girls and women in the country. Durrani has educated 7,000 girls and boys in Kandahar and trained more than 80 teachers in digital literacy. She was previously honored by the Malala Fund and among the BBC 100 and Time 100 influence lists.

Anna Luísa Beserra Santos (25) of Brazil will receive the Dedication award for her work to provide safe drinking water, handwashing, and sanitation to rural families. She is the founder of Sustainable Water and Development for All and a United Nations “Young Champion of the Earth.” Nidhi Pant (30) of India will receive the Giving Award. Pant is the co-founder of S4S Technologies and her work focuses on sustainability and inclusion by empowering women to be climate champions, farmers, and entrepreneurs.

Leon Ford (29) was paralyzed when he was shot by police officers during a traffic stop in Pittsburgh in 2012. He will receive the Respect Award to honor the work of his organization, the Hear Foundation. Through his collaboration with Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert, Ford’s Hear Foundation tackles issues of gun violence, racial justice, and police reform.

Dr. Daniel Nour (27) will become the first Australian Awardee when he accepts the Spirituality Award. Dr. Nour founded Street Side Medics – a mobile medical service specifically created for people experiencing homelessness.

If you are interested in sponsoring the event or reserving a table for 10, please email Theresa Burridge (tburridge@alicenter.org). Individual tickets will go on sale in September.

To involve the larger Louisville community and introduce them to the 2023 honorees, the Ali Center will hold a public event on November 3rd. More information on that event to follow.

Notes to Media:

Credential requests are now open!

Please submit your information here: https://alicenter.org/awards/media-credential-form/ by Monday, October 30.

Photos of awardees available upon request.

The Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards are made possible through the generous support of Brown-Forman, as well as by travel sponsorships from Louisville Tourism and 21C Museum Hotel, and by all the corporate and individual donors who support this event.

Contact:

Annie Moore

Muhammad Ali Center

amoore@alicenter.org

502.992.5338 or 812.786.1072 mobile