Thanks for the Music; CELEBRITY FIGHT NIGHT XIV THROWS A KNOCKOUT PUNCH

CELEBRITY FIGHT NIGHT XIV THROWS A KNOCKOUT PUNCH
TO FIGHT PARKINSON'S DISEASE
Photos by Glenda S. Paradee

KEVIN COSTNER, CLIVE DAVIS, REBA MCENTIRE AND LADAINIAN TOMLINSON WERE HONORED AT MUHAMMAD ALI’S CELEBRITY FIGHT NIGHT XIV. JOHN MELLENCAMP, DIONNE WARWICK, JORDIN SPARKS, COLLIN RAYE AND SINBAD PERFORMED TO A SOLD OUT SHOW

Oscar winning Director, actor and producer Kevin Costner was presented with the Muhammad Ali Celebrity Fight Night Achievement Award during Muhammad Ali's Celebrity Fight Night XIV. The actor delivered a moving acceptance speech to a riveted crowd after being presented with the award by renowned actor, director, writer and friend Mike Binder. Legendary Music Mogul Clive Davis received the

Muhammad Ali Celebrity Fight Night Entrepreneur Award after a heartfelt introduction by world renowned superstar and friend Whitney Houston. San Diego Chargers superstar and all-pro running back LaDainian Tomlinson was presented with the Muhammad Ali Celebrity Fight Night Sports Achievement Award by his friend, beloved sports commentator James Brown and multiple GRAMMY® Award winning artist Reba McEntire was honored with the Muhammad Ali Celebrity Fight Night Humanitarian Award. McEntire, who also served as the emcee for the evening, was presented with her award by good friend and country music superstar Faith Hill.

The packed crowd was treated to a host of A-list performances under the direction of multiple GRAMMY® Award winning musical director David Foster. The show kicked off with a rousing performance from Country Music star Collin Raye, who got the crowd on its feet with his hit "That's My Story." Legendary diva Dionne Warwick received a standing ovation for her performance of the hit "I'll Never Love this Way Again." Arizona native and American Idol winner Jordin Sparks entertained with two songs, her hit single "Tattoo" and a cover of Christina Aguilera's hit "Fighter." Guests received a very special treat when presenter Faith Hill came to the stage to perform her hit song "This Kiss" after a generous bidder offered $100,000 to the organization to hear her sing. Honoree Reba McEntire also took the stage with a crowd pleasing performance of "Love Revival." Comedian Sinbad performed a hilarious stand-up routine focusing on the trials and tribulations of marriage and family life while the stage was set for the grand finale. GRAMMY® Award winning rock legend John Mellencamp, recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, closed out the show with a five song set that included his hits "Jack & Diane," "Small Town," and "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A." at the request of the champ himself, Muhammad Ali.

The event also featured cocktails, a silent auction, an elegant dinner and an exciting live auction featuring one of-a-kind luxury items. The live auction featured items such as dinner at Reba McEntire's Beverly Hills, California home which went for $500,000, an extreme skate party hosted by Tony Hawk, a unique golf experience and dinner with legendary golfer Arnold Palmer which was purchased for $600,000, a dream day on the golf course with Phil Mickelson for $500,000, an intimate gourmet dinner with the Lonnie and Muhammad Ali for $200,000, dinner in one of the finest restaurants with David Foster and Andrea Bocelli which went for $260,000, and a one-of-a-kind 2008 Roush P-51A Mustang Convertible which sold for $300,000. Celebrity Fight Night XIV raised a total of more than $7.5 million dollars for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, as well as several other worthy charities.

April 5, 2008 at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona, Muhammad Ali welcomed honorees Kevin Costner, Clive Davis, Reba McEntire and LaDainian Tomlinson and performers John Mellencamp, Dionne Warwick, Collin Raye and Sinbad along with celebrity guests Faith Hill, Tony Hawk, David Foster, Shaquille O’Neal, Whitney Houston, Matt Leinart, Holly Robinson Peete, Alice Cooper, Shawne Merriman, Kevin Sorbo, Mary Lou Retton, Vince Young, Steve Nash, Earnie Shavers, Vinny Del Negro, Phillippi Sparks, Chuck Lidell, Tom Chambers, Mike Binder, Brian Urlacher, Sam Moore, Lute Olson, Jason Kidd, Roland Williams, Roy Yamaguchi, Leandro Barbosa, Raja Bell, James Brown, Mike D’ Antoni, Larry Fitzgerald, Boris Diaw, Grant Hill, Michael Johnson, Connie Hawkins, Brian Griese, Dan Majerle, Ray Lewis, Chris Rich, Melissa Peterman, Terry Crews, Nancy Lieberman, Amare Stoudemire and many more.

CELEBRITY FIGHT NIGHT XIV had musical performances by John Mellencamp, Dionne Warwick, Jordin Sparks and Collin Raye under the direction of David Foster with a special stand up routine from Sinbad. Muhammad Ali honored Kevin Costner, Clive Davis, LaDainian Tomlinson and Reba McEntire with the 2008 Muhammad Ali Celebrity Fight Night Awards. This black tie event began with cocktails and a silent auction with dinner, a live auction and entertainment immediately following. Congratulations to Kevin Costner, Clive Davis, Reba McEntire and Ladainian Tomlinson who were honored this night.

The Muhammad Ali Celebrity Fight Night Awards are presented annually to acknowledge leaders in the sports, entertainment and business communities who best represent the qualities associated with the Champ and his fight to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease. In recent years, Donald Trump, Steve Nash, John Elway, Sharon Stone, Robin Williams, Jim Carrey, Magic Johnson, Tony Hawk, Billy Crystal, Michael J. Fox, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chevy Chase, Jack Nicklaus, Wayne Gretzky, Joe Montana, Barry Bonds, Emmitt Smith, Evander Holyfield, Chris Evert, and Jerry Colangelo have received these awards. Additional award recipients have included Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling, Luis Gonzalez, Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, and Bob Emfield and Tony Margolis, Founders of Tommy Bahama. Each year dozens of celebrity guests attend the event that has raised more than $45 million dollars in 13 years.

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Glenn Paradee, Glenda S. Paradee, Ross Villaverde	Jordan Sparks	Jordan Sparks and family	Jordan Sparks	Kevin Costner with wife
Kevin Costner with wife	Kevin Costner with wife		Earnie Shavers with wife	Earnie Shavers with wife
Ben Flores	Dionne Warwick	Dionne Warwick	Beveryl Todd	Beveryl Todd
				Tony Hawk and wife
Faith Hill and Reba McEntire	Faith Hill and Reba McEntire	Faith Hill and Reba McEntire	Faith Hill and Reba McEntire	Faith Hill and Reba McEntire
Faith Hill	Faith Hill	Holly Robinson Peete	Holly Robinson Peete
Collin Raye	Collin Raye	Mary Lou Retton with daughter	Mary Lou Retton with daughter	Mary Lou Retton with daughter
			Tom Chambers and his wife	Tom Chambers and his wife
Kevin Sorbo and Tom Chambers	Johnny Rock Page
Sam Moore with wife	Sam Moore with wife	David Foster and wife
Lute Olson with wife	Lute Olson with wife
Muhammad Ali and wife Lonnie	Muhammad Ali and wife Lonnie	Muhammad Ali and wife Lonnie	Muhammad Ali and wife Lonnie
Reba McEntrie	Reba McEntrie	Reba McEntrie	Reba McEntrie
Silent Auction items	Silent Auction items	Silent Auction items	Glenn Paradee	Glenn Paradee and Shaquille O'Neal
Glenn Paradee and Shaquille O'Neal				Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston	Whitney Houston	Whitney Houston	Glenn Paradee, Tom Chambers & Ross Villaverde	Glenn Paradee, Tom Chambers & Ross Villaverde
	Glenn Paradee	Glenn Paradee & Glenda S. Paradee	Glenda S. Paradee & Ross Villaverde