Jimmy Walker is the President of Jimmy Walker, Ltd, which provides sophisticated life insurance solutions to high profile Business Executives, Entertainers and Professional Athletes.
In 1974, Jimmy and a couple investors, including Reggie Jackson, purchased the World Team Tennis Organization the Denver Racquets and moved the team to Phoenix. The following year Jimmy purchased controlling interest in the Team and renamed them the Phoenix Racquets. In November of 1975, Jimmy signed Chris Evert, the number one tennis player in the world, to a three-year contract. In 1976, World Team Tennis chose Jimmy as WTT's Executive of the Year.
Due to his vision and desire to raise money to assist people in need, in 1994 Jimmy Founded Celebrity Fight Night Foundation in Phoenix where he is Chairman & CEO. Throughout its history the event has become one of the largest grossing charity events in the country and has raised in excess of $135 million for charity with the primary beneficiary the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Vincent de Paul Homeless Shelter, and many other worthy charities. Countless lives have been changed thanks to the tremendous generosity of our supporters.
Recognized as one of the nation's elite charity events, Celebrity Fight Night is a star-studded evening presented in honor of the late Muhammad Ali who Jimmy developed a relationship with not long after founding the charity. Celebrities and professional athletes from all over the world participate in a night filled with incredible Live Auction items and live musical performances by many of today's brightest stars.
Some of the celebrities who have participated in Celebrity Fight Night include Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, Michael Buble, Celine Dion, Lionel Richie, Jennifer Lopez, Blake Shelton, Ronnie Dunn, Kelly Clarkson, Glenn Fry, Whitney Houston, Barry Manilow, Carrie Underwood, Rod Stewart, Kenny Rogers, Clive Davis, Billy Crystal, Kevin Costner, Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, Robert DeNiro, Halle Berry, Sharon Stone, Robin Williams, Sinbad, Dennis Quaid, Michael J. Fox, Bon Jovi, The Band Perry, Brian McKnight, Michael Bolton, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Donna Summer, Jordin Sparks, Faith Hill, Sam Moore, The Village People, Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Steve Nash, Russell Wilson, Kurt Warner, Joe Montana, John Elway, Troy Aikman, Larry Fitzgerald, Donald Trump, Robert Kennedy, Jr., and many more. David Foster has produced our entertainment for 19 years and Reba McEntire has been our Emcee for 12 years.
Celebrity Fight Night International was founded in 2014 after a chance meeting with Andrea Bocelli in an elevator in New York. Jimmy and Andrea together started a partnership where the Celebrity Fight Night Foundation and the Andrea Bocelli Foundation present their foundation’s annual respective 6 day charity event together in Tuscany, Italy which includes an evening at Andrea Bocelli’s home.
Throughout the years, Jimmy has helped various Valley charities raise money and has invited celebrities to participate in the events. One of Jimmy's favorite charities is Bicycles for Kids. During the last 32 years, Bicycles for Kids has provided over 7,500 bicycles for under privileged children along with food baskets provided by the generous donations from many families, businesses and organizations. The Walker family started Bicycles for Kids in their own backyard in 1982.
In 2007 Jimmy founded a program with the homeless at St. Vincent de Paul called "Never Give Up." Jimmy speaks every Monday morning to approximately 500-600 homeless men and women primarily encouraging them to "Never Give Up."
Jimmy and Nancy Walker were married in 1967 and have three children along with seven grandchildren. Jimmy has resided in Arizona since 1957. He attended Phoenix Central High School and received his education from Arizona State University on a basketball scholarship.