The Muhammad Ali Center and Metro United Way are partnering on the third annual Greatest Giveback initiative, a community service project that marks Muhammad Ali’s birthday and continues the annual tradition of facilitating and encouraging acts of service for those in our community who need a little extra help. The Greatest Giveback was originally set to take place at the Ali Center on Friday, January 14th—the date which leads into Muhammad’s 80th birthday on Monday, January 17th, and that also coincides with Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Due to the recent rise in COVID Omicron cases, however, the event has been rescheduled for June 9th, 2022.
The Greatest Giveback will include three different service projects throughout the day with each requiring a 90-minute shift. Volunteers can sign up HERE. Due to the ongoing pandemic, capacity limitations will be in place for each shift so individuals are encouraged to sign up early.
The shifts are as follow:
The Greatest Comfort (10 – 11:30 a.m.) – volunteers will decorate bags and assemble 800 Little Diaper Bundles to ensure that parents have access to diapers, wipes, and cream for our littlest neighbors.
The Greatest Care (12:30 – 2 p.m.) – volunteers will decorate bags and package 800 Healthy Snack Kits, providing food to children and youth participating in out of school time programs.
The Greatest Confidence (3 – 4:30 p.m.) – volunteers will decorate bags and package 800 Fresh and Clean Laundry Kits providing supplies essential for health, dignity, and confidence to people of all ages.
*No art skills are necessary to decorate the bags. You can trace designs or create your own.
This year’s theme is “TKO the need in our community: Time, Kindness, and Offering” and the volunteer projects are:
T (Time) GIVE A LITTLE OF YOUR TIME AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE
- Join us at the Greatest Giveback on June 9, 2022, on-site at the Ali Center.
- Greatest Care – Volunteers will decorate and assemble 800 bundle bags containing diapers, diaper cream, and a pack of wipes so that the infants and toddlers of our community stay clean, dry, and healthy from 9 to 11 a.m.
- Greatest Confidence – Volunteers will decorate and package 800 Fresh and Clean Laundry kits from Noon – 2 p.m.
- Greatest Comfort – Volunteers will create 100 fleece tie-knot blankets from 3 to 5 p.m.
These projects will support 80 nonprofit organizations in Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby and Bullitt counties in Kentucky and Clark, Floyd and Harrison counties in Indiana.
Or find a volunteer opportunity at volunteer.metrounitedway.org.
- You can also find a virtual or in-person opportunity that fits your needs.
- If you volunteer before January 30, 2022, be sure to log your volunteer hours and share your experience on social media using the hashtags #TheGreatestGiveback #ALI80
K (Kindness) SPREAD THE LOVE
Use social media and the #GreatestGiveBack to celebrate your acts of kindness.
O (Offering) SUPPORT
Personal care kits are the item most requested by nonprofits. Help us TKO this need by purchasing one or more personal care kits. The kits you purchase will support nonprofits caring for our neighbors across Metro United Way’s seven-county service area in Kentucky and southern Indiana. CLICK HERE to purchase!
“One of Muhammad’s most famous quotes is ‘Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth,’” said Laura Douglas, Interim President and CEO of the Muhammad Ali Center. “We are confident that in recognition of what would have been Muhammad’s 80th birthday, having his community of Louisville come together in his name to help those in need is precisely what he would have wanted us to do. We are greatly appreciative of our partner, Metro United Way, which also embraces compassion for others in their mission to advance opportunity and equity for all.”
In January 2021, due to COVID, The Greatest Giveback was held virtually. In 2020, more than 450 individuals showed up on-site at the Ali Center to create personal care kits, healthy snack packs, and blankets that went to 25 partner agencies within and around the Louisville area.
“Metro United Way is proud to once again partner with the Ali Center on The Greatest Giveback celebrating Muhammad Ali’s 80th birthday,” said Adria Johnson president and CEO of Metro United Way. “In yet another year of a global pandemic and increased need, we love seeing our community get involved to honor his legacy by giving back—this year to 80 organizations!”
The Muhammad Ali Center and Metro United Way wish to thank its presenting sponsor, Yum Brands, for their generosity and support.
