Celebrity Fight Night has announced that Lonnie Ali, wife of the late Muhammad Ali, will be honored at the third annual “Celebrity Fight Night in Italy” with Andrea Bocelli, which will take place September 7-13.
The 7-day excursion will take philanthropic donors and special guests through Florence, Lajatico and Venice where they will be treated to the very best arts, entertainment and culture in the region. Funds raised benefit both the Andrea Bocelli Foundation and the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center. Celebrity Fight Night, a star-studded annual charity event, has raised $123 million for many charities throughout its 22-year history, most significantly for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, AZ.
More than 100 philanthropists will travel to Italy to participate in the “benefit trip” where Italian designer Stefano Ricci will help kick off the festivities in Florence on September 8. Stefano Ricci will guide guests through the Basilica di Santa Croce, also known as the Temple of the Italian Glories, where Italian greats such as Michelangelo and Galileo were laid to rest. After exploring the Cappella dei Pazzi, the evening will conclude in the Cloister of the Basilica with dinner and music, led by Andrea Bocelli.
The following afternoon, guests will depart Florence on a scenic drive through Tuscany to Lajatico, the birthplace of Andrea Bocelli, where Andrea and Veronica Bocelli will welcome everyone for an unforgettable night. The evening will include aperitifs at the magnificent Teatro del Silenzio, a gourmet dinner, and memorable entertainment by Grammy Award-winning artists, David Foster, Reba McEntire, Brooks & Dunn, Peter Cetera, Colbie Caillatand Bocelli himself. Additional guests expected to attend include Larry King, Evander Holyfield, Freida Pinto, Melissa Peterman, and more. The next day, everyone will board a privately chartered train to Venice for an exciting day of exploration in one of the world’s most romantic cities. Lunch will be served at the stunning Palazzo Pisani Moretta, situated on the Grand Canal. After lunch, guests will enjoy a gondola ride to St. Mark’s Square for an aperitif on the Grand Canal, before returning to Florence.
The pinnacle of this seven day experience is the featured gala on September 11, where guests will walk the red carpet in the historical Salone dei Cinquecento at the Palazzo Vecchio. This massive Romanesque fortress-palace is one of the most impressive town halls in all of Tuscany; and it will again open exceptionally to host the gala. Andrea Bocelli, along with the extraordinary Maggio Musicale Fiorentino under the direction of the great Maestro Zubin Mehta, will headline the evening. Lonnie Ali will be honored onstage for her incredible philanthropic achievements, having been a part of Celebrity Fight Night along with her late husband, Muhammad Ali, for nearly two decades.
The event concludes with a special evening in the heart of Florence, starting at the Palazzo Spini Feroni, home to the Global Flagship Headquarters of Salvatore Ferragamo and the Museo Salvatore Ferragamo. The Ferragamo family themselves will welcome guests with a cocktail and a visit to the museum and the shop. From there, guests will be led to the nearby Palazzo Corsini for a night of dining and dancing.
The seven day experience is sponsored by Stefano Ricci, GVM La Civiltà del Marmo, Peak6 Best Marble, Ermanno Scervino, Falconeri, Fratelli Piccini Firenze, Mikimoto, Jeep, Fregoli Luxury Bags, Salotti del Gusto, Excellence Magazine, and Euro-Toques.
For more information, visit www.celebrityfightnight.org.
