Muhammad Ali honored for service to developing nations

[Murray Charters <mcharters@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Muhammad Ali honored for service to developing nations

May 4, 2004, 10:18 PM

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Muhammad Ali was honored Tuesday for his lifelong work to 
improve living standards in the developing
world by a national organization that promotes Arab-American interests.

The Arab American Institute highlighted the famous boxer's work in delivering 
money, medical relief and food to African
and Asian nations. It also praised Ali's efforts to stage his fights in 
developing countries such as Zaire and
Malaysia.

Ali, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, visited Afghanistan in November 2002 
as a United Nations "Messenger of
Peace."

A museum celebrating his life will open next year in Louisville, Ky., his 
hometown.

Ali received a Kahlil Gibran Spirit of Humanity award from the institute. It 
also honored MPI Media Group, which
produced such documentaries as "Inside the West Bank" and "Tragedy in the Holy 
Land: The Second Uprising."

Other honorees included the American Near East Refugee Aid, which provides 
assistance to displaced Palestinians, and
Rock the Vote, a voter registration initiative.

The institute created the awards six years ago in memory of Gibran, an early 
20th century Lebanese American poet.

Queen Noor of Jordan presented Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., with the first Najeeb 
Hallaby Award for public service, an
honor commemorating the former Federal Aviation Administration director and 
philanthropist.

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On the Net:

Arab American Institute: 

SOURCE: Detroit Free Press, MI - May 4, 2004


* * *

Queen Noor meets the King of Boxing at the gala event in Washington. Both she 
and Muhammad are well-known for their
commitment to humanitarian causes
Photo: © PA

The former heavyweight champ was on characteristically charming form at the 
event, during which he was presented with a
Spirit Of Humanity award
Photo: © PA

Click on photos to enlarge

5 MAY 2004

Sporting legend Muhammad Ali has been honoured for his efforts to help people 
in the world's poorest countries. Queen
Noor of Jordan was among those who came along to congratulate the former 
heavyweight champion, after he was presented
with the Kahil Gibran Spirit Of Humanity Award at the Arab American Institute.

The 62-year-old, who is well-known for his ability to charm a crowd, performed 
magic tricks and told the story of his
conversion to the Islamic faith. Muhammad was born Cassius Clay, but changed 
his name after becoming a Muslim. "People
in Africa and all over the world started to recognise me as their brother 
because of my name," he explained.

Since he retired from boxing, the pugilist, who suffers from Parkinson's 
Syndrome, has dedicated himself to bringing
medical relief, food and money to impoverished communities across Africa and 
Asia. In 2002 he travelled to war-torn
Afghanistan as a United Nations Messenger Of Peace.

The annual Kahil Gibran Awards celebrate the people and organisations who have 
most contributed to humanitarian causes
and understanding between Arab and Western cultures. They were established in 
memory of the renowned Lebanese-American
poet of the same name.

SOURCE: HelloMagazine.com, UK


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