Cristie Kerr Golf

Top Ranked LPGA Champion Cristie Kerr will receive the prestigious Muhammad Ali Award for Sport Achievement at the star-studded Celebrity Fight Night charity gala March 19th at the Marriot Desert Ridge in Scottsdale, Arizona. 

In 2010, Kerr became the first American to reach #1 in the Official Rolex World Golf Rankings when she won the LPGA Championship by a record 12 shots. The Miami, FL native and part time Scottsdale resident has 14 wins on the LPGA tour including two Major Championships and is 5th all time in career LPGA earnings. This will be the first time a female athlete has been presented with this award in the 16 year history of this premier charity's annual event. 

"Celebrity Fight Night is fortunate to be honoring Cristie Kerr with the
Muhammad Ali Celebrity Fight Night Sports Achievement Award in 2011.
Cristie not only exemplifies what being a true champion is on the
course, but she consistently portrays what Muhammad Ali stands for in
his fight against Parkinson's disease with her extraordinary heart off
the course” remarked Celebrity Fight Night founder Jimmy Walker.

Kerr has used her success on the course as a platform to create awareness and funding for breast cancer research through her foundation, Birdies for Breast Cancer. In 2010, the foundation partnered with Jersey City Medical Center to create the regions most comprehensive center specializing in women’s health issues. The Cristie Kerr Women’s Health Center offers breast cancer screening and treatment programs and is the first center of its kind to treat uninsured women.

“I’m deeply honored to be recognized by Muhammed Ali and the Celebrity Fight Night event not just for my golf achievements, but also for our work off the course to fight breast cancer. I have always admired what Muhammed Ali has stood for as an athlete and a humanitarian and the work Jimmy Walker does with the event and raising money and awareness to fight Parkinsons Disease is an inspiration to me in my efforts”, Kerr commented on the honor.

In addition to golf and her philanthropic efforts off the course, Kerr expanded her entrepreneurial skills by partnering with the award winning Pride Mountain Vineyards to create Curvature Wines. The highly rated wines are featured n some of Americas top golf clubhouses and restaurants, and 100% of proceeds go to breast cancer research.

The other recipients of the Muhammad Ali Celebrity Fight Night awards this year are: Academy Award-winning actress Halle Berry, Founder and CEO of GoDaddy Bob Parsons and former NBA and NFL owner Red McCombs.

Celebrity Fight Night is being emceed by Grammy Award-winning artist Reba McEntire. Multi-platinum recording artist, Matchbox Twenty will be headlining the event including performances by Grammy Award-winning vocalist Kelly Clarkson. 

Other notable celebrities taking the stage include comedians Billy Crystal and Sinbad, Legendary country singer, Lee Greenwood, the Top 12 American Idol 2011 finalists as well as Bret Michaels. Kevin Costner and his band, Modern West will provide after-party entertainment.

Celebrity Fight Night has raised nearly $65 million for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center and other charities. The event is Saturday, March 19th at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Ariz.

For more information, visit CelebrityFightNight.org.