Featured Exhibit
Muhammad Ali poses with John Edwards at a fundraiser for Better Boys Foundation, Chicago, Illinois, February 2, 2005
Donated by John Edwards in 2022.
Better Boys Foundation
Having lived in Chicago for several years, Muhammad Ali had a special connection to the people there, especially the city’s youth. Like the other places he’d lived in, he went out of his way to give back to the community in multiple ways, including offering support of the Better Boys Foundation.
According to John Edwards, who donated the photograph displayed here, this was not the first time Ali had participated in fundraising for this program. The back of the photograph reads:
“Feb 2, 2005
Charity event at Better Boys Foundation, which Muhammad Ali and I were at. This is a southside after school mentoring program. The program is at the First Baptist Church on 4220 W 18th. Ali and I were both 63 at the time. I was the representative of Golden Gloves and USA Boxing. It was a day to be remembered. We were called for other charity events.”
As of January 2025, the Better Boys Foundation is now Building Brighter Futures, whose mission is to provide a safe, nurturing environment where children will learn to not only value their innate abilities, but to acquire life-long skills that will enable them to thrive.
Photograph of Muhammad Ali with John Edwards, February 2, 2005
