Two decades later, Keep Memory Alive sizzles in Las Vegas
Editor’s Note: While Robin Leach is away on his annual family vacation in Italy, he invited several Las Vegas VIPs to pen guest columns in his absence. Knowing Robin’s strong commitment to the Keep Memory Alive charity that funds the work of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in downtown Symphony Park, it was only natural that he would invite co-founder Larry Ruvo to talk about KMA’s wonderful work in our community.
By Larry Ruvo
It’s estimated that 5.1 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. By 2050, that number will triple, and our battle with Alzheimer’s will become an all-out war against what is currently an incurable and horrendous brain disease. Personally, my fight with the disease began more than 20 years ago when my father, Lou Ruvo, was diagnosed with and eventually taken by Alzheimer’s.
It was from watching his struggle that I became committed to finding a cure and treatment for brain diseases, ultimately leading to the creation of Keep Memory Alive. KMA is a fundraising organization that eventually created the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, a world-renowned medical facility that provides state-of-the-art care for brain diseases such Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis and family members of those who suffer from them.
My dear friend Robin Leach has given me the privilege of writing this column to tell you more about KMA and the Lou Ruvo Center, which also gives me the opportunity to say thank you, Robin! Robin and I first met during an auction at one of the early Power of Love dinners.
When our sound system went out, it was Robin’s magical voice that saved the night and, consequently, started our friendship. Ever since that night, no matter what I ask, Robin’s been there to help in any way he can. He has been ever so important in our quest to find cures for these wicked diseases.
KMA was organized almost by accident. I held a dinner at Spago in the Forum Shops of Caesars Palace to celebrate my father’s memory. By the time the night was through, we had raised $35,000. At the end of the evening, I went to Wolfgang Puck and said, “Wolfgang, this wasn’t even a fundraiser; it was a celebration of my father’s life on the first anniversary of his passing. Let’s do a dinner.”
Wolfgang said, “I’ll do it Larry, but I want to bring another chef with me.” I said, “Of course. Who is the chef?” He gave me the gentleman’s name, but I didn’t know him. We then sent out invitations, and many of our donors said that they knew Wolfgang, but who is the other gentleman? Well, it turns out the other gentleman was Nobu Matsuhisa. Today, Nobu is a household name, much like KMA and the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health.
That first dinner in 1996 was a remarkable celebration of the friendships my father built in his lifetime. What began as a small group of friends getting together has blossomed into an event known for attracting some of the world’s most celebrated chefs and entertainers for an evening of philanthropy, partying and one-of-a-kind entertainment.
I’ve often said that growing up in Las Vegas taught me about what I call the “sizzle” factor. The hotels always had spectacular entertainment, celebrated chefs and unparalleled attractions — they sizzled. So I took what I learned about the sizzle factor and applied it to the Lou Ruvo Center by hiring architect Frank Gehry.
I believed that if I built it, the best in the world would come, and, sure enough, one of the top hospitals in the world came to Las Vegas. That was the start of our journey to end these horrible diseases. Sizzle brought me the incredible Cleveland Clinic and remarkable doctors. Twenty years after the first Power of Love Gala, the sizzle continues.
The list of entertainers, world-renowned chefs and support from the Las Vegas community has frankly been overwhelming, and because of Robin’s help we have raised more than $250 million for brain disease care and research. Our center is one of the leading and largest clinical trial sites in the country and is currently conducting more than 20 trials to combat brain diseases.
Our friend chef Kerry Simon, who recently succumbed to Multiple System Atrophy and was an advocate and patient of the Lou Ruvo Center, is yet another example of the remarkable support Las Vegas and the chef community have provided for our mission to eradicate these devastating diseases.
KMA will continue to bring the sizzle in the years to come. We will not stop until we find a cure! Robin, thank you, thank you — chin don!
