Celebrity Fight Night XII for Parkinson's Center

Celebrity Fight Night XII
March 18, 2006
Scottsdale, Arizona
Photos and story by Glenda S. Paradee

Celebrity Fight Night was a huge success to aid the parkinson's center. The gala event was founded by Jimmy Walker. It benefits the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute and about 30 other Arizona charities.

Jimmie Walker says the evening netted $5.7 million - a record for the Valley's social scene.

It was a black tie knock out with seats costing $5000.00 per person. It's where 14 of the 17 live auction items fetched more than $70,000 each. 

Two couples each paid $250,000 for dinner with Reba McEntire in her Beverly Hills home.

There was a custom-built Orange County Chopper that went for $115,000. Also, a day on the movie set with Robin Williams went for $190,000.

During the show, David Foster asked Garth Brooks to sing for the crowd of 1,200, who chanted "Garth, Garth", but the singer offered to donate $250,000 to have his wife, Trisha, to sing instead. Trisha Yearwood sang and Brooks eventually gave in and treated the crowd to a duet.

Oscar willing actor and comedian Robin Williams was honored with "The Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award". Two-time Golden Globe winning actor Jim Carrey received "The Muhammad Ali Entertainer Award." Legendary NBA Hall of Fame star Magic Johnson received "The Muhammad Ali Sports Legend Award." Virgin Atlantic mogul Sir Richard Branson received "The Muhammad Ali Visionary Award," and the world class professional skateboarding icon, businessman, designer and author Tony Hawk received "The Muhammad Ali Entrepreneur Award." Country music super star of stage and screen Reba McEntire was the host and also performed at the event. 10-time Grammy Award winner Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds and Rene Olstead performed on this magical evening under the rdirection of 14-time Grammy Award-winning producer David Foster as the musical director. 

Other Celebrity attendee's were Kirstie Alley, who looked spectacular, Kevin Sorbo (Hercules), Patrick Swayze, Ken Norton, Rodney Peete, Earnie Shavers, Leeza Gibbons, Tom Chambers and many, many more.

The Celebrity Fight Night Foundation established The Muhammad Ali Awards as a way 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. Each year dozens of celebrity guests attend the event that has raised more than $32 million dollars in eleven years. Celebrity Fight Night Foundation is a non-profit organization that was established in 1994 by Jimmy Walker and has been supporting the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow neurological Institute in Phoenix and numerous other worthy charities. Official sponsors of this great event include CA, Mortgages Ltd., American Airlines, Sentient Jet and Best Life

For more information and to make donations, visit www.celebrityfightnight.org or call 
(602) 956-1121.

Trisha, Muhammad Ali, Garth	Magic Johnson	Patrick Swayze with his wife	Ken Norton & Kirstie Ally
Muhammad Ali	Muhammad Ali	Jim Carrey	Trisha, Muhammad Ali, Garth
Reba McEntire	Reba McEntire	Reba McEntire	Reba McEntire
Trisha Yearwood, Muhammad Ali and Garth Brooks	Garth and Trisha	Garth and Trisha	Garth and Trisha
Robin Williams & Glenda S. Paradee of Thanks for the Music	Garth Brooks, Glenda S. Paradee, Trisha Yearwood	Patrick Swayze & Glenda S. Paradee	Ken Norton & Glenda S. Paradee
Tom Chambers & Glenda	Kevin Sorbo & Glenda	Kirstie Alley & Glenda