Las Vegas Weekly

November 12, 2009 · 9:32 AM

Leno, Fator, King and Miss USA to attend NVCI gala tonight

By Robin Leach

Miss USA 2009 Kristen Dalton and Dr. John Ruckdeschel, CEO and director of the Nevada Cancer Institute.

Photo: Scott Lien/Nevada Cancer Institute

More than 900 guests including reigning Miss USA Kristen Dalton will attend tonight’s 8th Annual Nevada Cancer Institute’s fundraising gala “Rock for the Cure.” NBC primetime host Jay Leno will join with Strip headliner Terry Fator at the glittering event to be hosted by CNN talk show royal Larry King as emcee at The Mirage. Many of Nevada’s most prominent business and community leaders will be attending what is regarded as one of the biggest functions on the social calendar.

This year’s event pays tribute to Heather Murren, co-founder, former CEO and chairwoman of the board whose leadership and efforts built NVCI from just a dream in 2002 to the now three-building campus here in Las Vegas that houses some of the world’s best cancer physicians and researchers.

After cocktails in the silent auction area, dinner will feature culinary masterpieces by celebrity chefs Brian Massie from The Light Group restaurants and Julian Serrano from Picasso in the Bellagio and his new namesake restaurant opening in December at CityCenter’s Aria.

The live auction will be hosted by Peter Stremmel and Jack Sheehan, with guests having the opportunity to bid on such items as a trip to the Daytona Speedway for a NASCAR race, Magic Johnson’s seats for a L.A. Lakers game, dinner with Eva Longoria Parker at her new restaurant Beso in Crystals at CityCenter and a personal tour of Jay’s garage, where he keeps his antique car collection, along with front-row tickets to his new live variety talk show.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Jay Leno at the 2nd Annual Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction at Mandalay Bay.

A 2010 XJ Jaguar also will be raffled off thanks to Gary Ackerman and Gaudin Jaguar. This is an extraordinary prize because the package includes round-trip airfare to England on the new British Airways direct flight with a chauffeured ride to the Jaguar design studio. Once there, the winner receives a personal meeting with Ian Callum to design and accessorize the new XJ car. Finally, a chauffeured ride to the Castle Bromwich Jaguar assembly plant with a VIP tour to watch your car roll off!

The night ends with performances by Jay and Terry, followed by a retro dance party to the midnight hour.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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