Ali’s 75th Birthday Would Have Been January 17th

New Ali Tribute Exhibition to Open January 14th

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (December 14, 2016) — Following the passing of boxing legend and global humanitarian Muhammad Ali on June 3, 2016, the Muhammad Ali Center will honor what would have been his 75th birthday on January 17, 2017, with several community activities at the Ali Center January 14-17th. The weekend event line-up includes free film screenings, a new Muhammad Ali Tribute exhibition, and a service project with Ali Center staff members. January 17th marks the Second Annual International Mentoring Day and mentors are encouraged to tour the Center with their mentees all weekend long at a discounted rate, $5 for mentor and free for the mentee. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day also occurs during this timeframe, and special film showings will occur on Monday, January 16 as part of the weekend festivities.

Weekend Line-Up:

• Saturday, January 14th:

Muhammad Ali Tribute Exhibition Opens to the public in the new Ina B. Bond Gallery. The Tribute Show affords the opportunity for the Center to showcase unique art pieces that are in our collection or on loan for this particular exhibition. On display will be a variety of art pieces in mediums from oils and acrylic to a cut and dyed concrete paver compilation, all creative pieces inspired by The Greatest! Entrance to this exhibit is included in the regular admission price.

The public is also invited to the Center’s auditorium for free film screenings throughout the day.

10:00 a.m.: Ali Rap
11:00 a.m.: When We Were Kings
1:00 p.m.: The Trials of Muhammad Ali
3:00 p.m.: Muhammad Ali: Through the Eyes of the World

• Sunday, January 15th:

More free film screenings throughout the day:

12:00 p.m.: Muhammad Ali: In His Own Words
1:00 p.m.: Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight
3:00 p.m.: Ali’s Dozen: 12 Fights, 12 Rounds, 12 Defining Moments

• Monday, January 16th – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

It has become a tradition for the Ali Center to show Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech to the community in recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This year is no different.

Join the Ali Center as it shows this historic speech every hour on the hour beginning at 10:00 a.m. A panel discussion, “Continuing the Dream, Living the Legacy” will follow the 11:00 a.m. showing. Members of the Muhammad Ali Center Council of Students will discuss how young people are continuing the work of Dr. King and Muhammad Ali in our community.

• Tuesday, January 17th

In honor of Muhammad Ali’s famous quote, “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth”, the Ali Center’s staff and Council of Students will partner with Together We Rise for a service project. The staff’s goal is to donate 75 hours of service in recognition of what would have been Ali’s 75th birthday. The staff and team members will build over 20 new bikes for foster care children in Louisville, a nod to Ali’s stolen red Schwinn bike that became the catalyst for his boxing career.

Note: Beginning on January 3rd, 2017, the Muhammad Ali Center will be raising its admission prices for the first time in its eleven year history. New rates will be: $12 for adults; $11 for seniors; $8 for military; $8 for students; and $7 for children.

About Together We Rise

Together We Rise is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization comprised of motivated young adults and former foster youth. Our vision is to improve the lives of foster children in America, who often find themselves forgotten and neglected by the public. We collaborate with community partners to bring resources to foster youth and use service-learning activities to educate volunteers on issues surrounding the foster care system.

TWR works with hundreds of foster agencies, social workers, CASA advocates, and other partners to bring our programs to foster youth across the nation. Our foundation has allowed us to provide thousands of foster youth across the country with new bicycles, college supplies, and suitcases so that children do not have to travel from home to home with their belongings in a trash bag.