Preview: Keep Memory Alive’s ‘Power of Love Gala’ at MGM Grand
It’s our city’s biggest charitable gala of the year, and “Power of Love” returns to celebrate its 21st anniversary Thursday. Gwen Stefani and Jon Bon Jovi headline the entertainment. Hometown sports hero Andre Agassi will be presented with the Community Achievement Award, and Siegfried Fischbacher of Siegfried & Roy will receive the first Caregiver Award from The Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health.
Celebrity chefs Wolfgang Puck and Michael Mina will handle dinner duties for the glamorous fundraiser that recognizes billionaire Ronald Perelman for his philanthropy. I hope that I’m not breaking secrets, but I believe that supermodel Cindy Crawford, who was Ron’s choice as the face of his Revlon, will escort him.
Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis will attend with his former head coach, Tom Flores, and former players Jim Plunkett, Lester Hays and Napoleon McCallum. Red carpet celebrities also include TV personality Larry King, “The Sopranos” stars Steve Schirripa and Jamie-Lynn Sigler, singer-songwriter producer Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, rocker Vince Neil and John Paul DeJoria, owner of John Paul Mitchell.
Keep Memory Alive founder Larry Ruvo commented: “I’m ecstatic to honor Ronald Perelman and Andre Agassi at this year’s gala, as they both share my passion for philanthropy and have made countless contributions to advance medical research and public education to Las Vegas and beyond. Their dedication and efforts to raise funds and awareness in these areas is truly inspirational, and their work will continue to touch the lives of many in the years to come.”
Tickets are still available at KeepMemoryAlive.org. Auction bidders will be fighting for everything from private yacht trips, getaways in Australia and events with Lady Gaga, David Copperfield, Sammy Hagar and tennis lessons with Andre and Stefania Graff.
Two highlights I’ll introduce are a one-ton marble masterpiece with a Steinway grand piano at its heart that Andrea Bocelli will play at a private party in your home or hotel and his gift of a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Rome, Italy, by private jet from here for a fall concert at The Colosseum with Sir Elton John.
The winning bidders will travel with Reba McEntire, Brooks & Dunn, Katie Couric and David Foster to The Eternal City, where Italian President Sergio Mattarella will welcome them into his official residence at Quirinal Palace. There also are two VIP tickets for the 143rd Kentucky Derby on May 6. The 62nd annual parade May 4 features Dolvett Quince from NBC’s “Biggest Loser” as grand marshal.
My longtime twin friends Trish and Cyb Barnstable host their Derby Eve gala at their private Highlands Mansion with Harry Connick Jr., Kid Rock, Kacey Musgraves, Taylor Dane, Montgomery Gentry, Orianthi, Larry David, Tracy Morgan, Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Mary Wilson and Giada De Laurentiis. We need to raise more than $6 million to continue the work of the brain center, so please support us in every way possible.
