‘Fightin’ Talk: Muhammad Ali’ Tribute to Air December 22 @ 7:00 PM, Followed by the ‘2016 Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards’ @ 7:30 PM
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (December 20, 2016) — FUSION will honor the life and legacy of Muhammad Ali on December 22 with two half-hour specials. Ali is one of the greatest sporting figures of the 20th century, but his influence goes way beyond boxing. The world heavyweight champion from Louisville, Kentucky constantly defied expectations and made his own rules. He converted to Islam, became a key figure in the black liberation movement and sacrificed his career by refusing to fight in the Vietnam War. Ali set the bar for today’s social justice movement, influencing groups like Black Lives Matter and athletes like Colin Kaepernick. He also empowered generations of people worldwide—all ages, cultures, religions, and ethnicities—through his respect and love for others. Fusion takes a look back at Muhammad Ali’s life and shows why his legacy remains so relevant. The special tribute, ‘Fightin’ Talk: Muhammad Ali,’ will air December 22 @ 7:00PM on FUSION (channel listings).
As one way to keep his legacy alive, the Muhammad Ali Center hosts the annual Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards, which celebrate individuals around the world who are passionate in their dedication to innovative social justice issues in local and global communities. In addition, six individuals 30 years of age or younger are recognized with awards for exemplifying Muhammad Ali’s six core principles: confidence, conviction, dedication, giving, respect, and spirituality. FUSION will air a special highlighting the recipients of the ‘2016 Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards’ on December 22 @ 7:30PM on FUSION (channel listings).
“The Ali Center is pleased that through these two back-to-back specials, Fusion viewers will be able to learn more about Muhammad Ali’s legacy,” said Jeanie Kahnke, Sr. Director of Public Relations and External Affairs for the Muhammad Ali Center. “Throughout Muhammad’s life, his words, actions, and example inspired millions. The Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award recipients are powerful examples of how Muhammad’s spirit lives on through their humanitarian work which is igniting change for the betterment of humanity.”
“FUSION is committed to elevating diverse voices who are fearless, passionate, and eager to make the world a better and more just place. Throughout his life, Muhammad Ali used his iconic status to do that—proving our society is stronger when people stand up and make their voices heard. We are thrilled to shine a light on the positive social impact Muhammad Ali had throughout his life as well as those who are keeping his legacy alive everyday by not settling and always thinking big,” said Chad Boettcher SVP of Social Impact at FUSION.
Awardees for the 2016 Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards included: Cindy Hensley McCain, philanthropist and businesswoman, received the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award for Lifetime Achievement; Jon Secada, Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter, and philanthropist, received the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian of the Year Award; Louis Gossett, Jr., Academy Award winning actor and humanitarian, received the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award for Education; Sheryl Lee Ralph, Broadway, big screen, TV actress and philanthropist, received the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award for Global Citizenship; and John Rosenberg, founding director of the Appalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky, received the 2016 Muhammad Ali Kentucky Humanitarian Award.
Recipients of the 2016 Core Principle Awards were:
- Josh Nesbit, Waterford, Virginia received the Confidence award. Josh is the co-founder and CEO of Medic Mobile, a nonprofit organization that builds mobile and web tools for community health workers, clinic staff, and families in the hardest-to-reach communities.
- Shawana Shah, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan received the Conviction award. Shawana works to end gender-based violence in her native Pakistan and to provide women a platform to fight for their rights.
- Curt Bowen, Boise, Idaho received the Dedication award. Curt is the executive director and co-founder of Semilla Nueva, a nonprofit that develops locally-led farmer education programs that increase the income, rebuild the soils, and improve the food security of Guatemala’s rural poor.
- Jakob Schillinger, Tuebingen, Germany received the Giving award. Jakob is the co-founder of OneDollarGlasses, which produces high-quality prescription eyeglasses for a cost of less than one dollar per pair.
- Tina Hovsepian, Los Angeles, California received the Respect award. Tina is the founder and executive director of Cardborigami, a nonprofit that supports those who lost their homes due to poverty, natural disasters, or other crises.
- Navonel Glick (Voni, Tel Aviv, Israel received the Spirituality award. Voni is the chief operating officer of IsraAID and previously served as its programs director, leading disaster-response missions across the world.
ABOUT FUSION
Through impactful journalism and smart commentary, FUSION covers the stories that matter to the new, rising American mainstream. FUSION content is available to audiences across a broad range of platforms including cable television (channel listings), FUSION.net, various OTT providers and social media platforms. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. FUSION is a part of the Fusion Media Group, a division of Univision Communications Inc.
Media Contact: David Ford / david@fusion.net / 305-925-8882
ABOUT THE MUHAMMAD ALI CENTER
The Muhammad Ali Center, a 501(c)3 corporation, was co-founded 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, gender equity, and global citizenship. Its newest initiative, Generation Ali, fosters a new generation of leaders to contribute positively to their communities and to change the world for the better. The Center’s headquarters also contains an award-winning museum experience. For more information, please visit www.alicenter.org