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Glenn and Mindy Stearns donate week at Fijian Paradise raising $220,000 at Celebrity Fight Night
Orange County, Calif., March 29, 2006 --
The 12th Annual Celebrity Fight Night netted $4 million for worthy charities, with the primary beneficiary being the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute.
Orange County’s Glenn and Mindy Stearns donated their holiday retreat for a week on the private island of Wakaya). The Balinese style home, originally designed by famed Sri Lanken architect Geoffrey Bawa, is situated on a dramatic cliff 150 feet above the white sandy beaches and azure waters of the Koro Sea which boasts some of the most remarkable scuba diving and snorkeling in all the South Pacific.
We look forward to this remarkable event every year. We are so fortunate to be able to contribute to such a worthy cause”, said Glenn Stearns, Founder and CEO of Stearns companies located in Orange County, California. “We are delighted that our holiday home could generate this much revenue for the foundation. It’s an amazing place that I hope the winners will never forget.”
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.
Over 1,200 guests attended the sold out charity event on Saturday, March 18th at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa in Las Vegas.
“I’m very encouraged by the comments from numerous guests that Celebrity Fight Night XII was the best event ever,” exclaimed Jimmy Walker, Founder and Chairman of the Celebrity Fight Night Foundation.
Celebrity Fight Night’s memorable moments started with an American Bald Eagle soaring across the ballroom just over the heads of amazed guests to conclude a rendition of “God Bless America.” The non-stop excitement caused a continual buzz from the crowd and led Jim Carrey and Robin Williams to stand on their chairs and in true comedic form request the crowd to quiet down.
Other hot auction items included a day on the movie set of one Robin Williams’ upcoming films for the price of $190,000 dollars and dinner for ten with Reba McEntire at her Beverly Hills home for $250,000 dollars.
Jazz sensation, 16-year-old Renee Olstead, kicked-off the evening’s entertainment, which was followed by a memorable medley from 10-time Grammy Award winner Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, while country music star of stage and screen McEntire added tunes to the magical evening. All musical entertainment for the evening was led by 14-time Grammy Award-winning producer David Foster.
About Stearns Family Charitable Foundation:
The Stearns Family Charitable Foundation, founded by Orange County’s Glenn and Mindy Stearns (www.glennandmindy.com), is dedicated to helping disadvantaged youth reach their full potential. The Stearns Family Charitable Foundation supports organizations such as Canyon Acres Youth and Family Services, Crisis Pregnancy Organization, and Celebrity Fight Night. The couple, who in 2004 took home the winning prize on the TBS television show “The Real Gilligan’s Island”, donated and matched all winnings to the Stearns Family Charitable Foundation. Since then, the Foundation remains committed to providing support and development to troubled youth.
About Celebrity Fight Night:
The growth and success of the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center over the years is due in part to the Celebrity Fight Night Foundation. The center celebrated its 16th year in 2005. It is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations. The Center provided diagnostic and treatment services, research, and education for those whose lives have been touched by Parkinson’s disease. The center also conducts extensive research in new medical and surgical treatments for Parkinson’s disease and related disorders.
Each year dozens of celebrity guests attend the event that has raised more than $38 million dollars in twelve years. Official sponsors of this great event included CA, Mortgages Ltd., American Airlines, Sentient Jet, POST Magazine and Best Life.
Celebrity Fight Night was started in 1994 to raise money for local charities through a celebrity charity event. Each year, under the direction of founder Jimmy Walker, Celebrity Fight Night attracts celebrities from sports and entertainment. He and many others participate in putting together this exciting event. www.celebrityfightnight.com
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