Phoenix Philanthropist : Jimmy D. Walker

Jimmy Walker is the CEO of Walker Financial, LLC. The Wealth Management, Estate Planning and Property and Casualty firm has over 3,000 clients and has approximately 250 professional athletes and various entertainers as clients. In 1974, Jimmy and a couple investors, including Reggie Jackson, purchased the Denver Racquets in World Team Tennis and moved the team to Phoenix. The following year Jimmy purchased controlling interest in 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.

Jimmy in 1980 was part of an investment group that purchased the Phoenix Giants baseball team in the AAA Pacific Coast League. In 1986, Jimmy became a limited partner in the Phoenix Suns basketball team. Jimmy was instrumental in selecting key investors to become partners in the Arizona Diamondbacks when Phoenix was awarded an expansion team in Major League baseball.

Jimmy is the Chairman and Founder of the Celebrity Fight Night Foundation which started in 1994, Throughout the past 15 years the Foundation has presented its annual charity event raising approximately $60 million with the primary beneficiary being the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at the world-renowned Barrow Neurological Institute. Some of the celebrities who have participated in Celebrity Fight Night include the featured guest of honor Muhammad Ali, Billy Crystal, Celine Dion, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Jon Bon Jovi, Robin Williams, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jim Carrey, Kevin Costner, Rod Stewart, Donald Trump, Sharon Stone, Diana Ross, Michael Bube, Josh Groban, Michael J. Fox,  Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Tony Hawk, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Clive Davis, Whitney Houston, Lionel Ritchie, Gloria Estefan, Larry King, Emmitt Smith, Neil Sedaka, John Elway, Wayne Gretzky, Steve Nash, Joe Montana, Shaquille 0'Neal, David Foster, Randy Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Chris Evert, Mark McGwire, Evander Holyfield, Barry Bonds, Charles Barkley, etc...

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 26 years, Bicycles for Kids has provided approximately 5,200 bicycles for inner city 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 addition, 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 300 to 400 homeless men and women primarily encouraging them to "Never Give Up."

Jimmy is a Trustee on the Barrow Neurological Foundation Board. He also has served on the Board of the Phoenix Boys and Girls Club. Jimmy has also been acknowledged in Phoenix as Muscular Dystrophy Association's Man of the Year in 1995 and Crisis Nursery's Honorary Chairman for their 2000 charity event. In November 2000, Jimmy received the "National Association of Fund-Raising Executives Spirit of Philanthropy Award" in Phoenix from St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center and Barrow Neurological Institute, In 2003, Jimmy and his wife Nancy were honored by the Arizona Chapter of the American Jewish Committee with their National Human Relations Award for advancing plurality and democracy. In 2004, Jimmy hosted President George Bush Sr, during a political fundraiser for Senator Jon Kyl in his home. In 2005, Jimmy was awarded the Golden Karma Award for Outstanding Community Philanthropy in Metropolitan Phoenix.

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