Las Vegas Weekly

May 21, 2010 · 1:32 PM

Helping hands: Lou Ruvo, Best in Show, guitar auction, St. Baldrick’s

By Robin Leach

Siegfried Fischbacher, Roy Horn and Larry Ruvo at the Keep Memory Alive 14th Annual Power of Love Gala at the Bellagio on Feb. 27, 2010.

Photo: TVT

A 14-year dream came true this morning with the official opening of the Frank Gehry-designed Life Activity Center at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health downtown. The opening of the architectural masterpiece marks the center’s completion, and 1,000 biodegradable balloons were released to honor the cherished memories of patients, caregivers and supporters.

Keep Memory Alive Chairman and founder Larry Ruvo, who led the 14-year campaign, Mayor Oscar Goodman, Sen. John Ensign and Cleveland Clinic President Dr. Toby Cosgrove and Medical Director Dr. Randy Schiffer were on hand.

The star-studded grand-opening gala is tomorrow, and Senior Editor John Katsilometes spoke with Larry, who says the brain center is “ready to roll.”

I’ve had the joy and privilege over the years of conducting auctions and emceeing our annual Keep Memory Alive galas, which have been supported by Siegfried & Roy, Barry Manilow, Angie Dickenson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Danny DeVito, Michael Buble and other celebrities. This year’s KMA event with Barry raised $27 million.

It’s a remarkable achievement for a remarkable city. All funds were privately raised -- without government or taxpayer support -- and now Las Vegas has the finest brain health clinic in the southwest. It also marks the start of a concerted effort by civic and hotel leaders to transform our city into a major medical center.

BEST IN SHOW

Sixty abandoned puppies and dogs are set to steal hearts at The Animal Foundation’s Best in Show on noon Sunday at The Orleans Arena. I’ll be there to drum up support for the auction items and introduce The Mirage headliner Terry Fator, who’ll host the parade of adorable dogs with Peepshow star Holly Madison, who’ll bring her Holly’s World posse and their pups.

It’s the seventh annual Best in Show, the largest fundraiser to benefit the foundation, which supports Lied Animal Shelter. Casts of our Strip shows including Ka, Phantom -- Las Vegas Spectacular, Jersey Boys, The Lion King and Mystere have decorated plaster cast dogs for the auction. Superstar Cher even worked with fashion designer Bob Mackie on their sequined masterpiece, and Lance Burton turned his dog into a magician.

Last time, I bought the Folies Bergere and Spamalot dogs, and I can only guess what I’ll be tempted to purchase Sunday. I’m betting Cher’s dog will go for more than $10,000: Bob and she signed its backside!

Holly will be joined by comedians Carrot Top from the Luxor and Louie Anderson from the Excalibur, plus her Peepshow co-star Josh Strickland and members of their celebrity bowling team to fight cancer. The foursome will participate in the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s bowl for the fight. They are one of 40 teams taking part with 200 cancer survivors, caregivers and advocates at Suncoast Bowling Center tomorrow from 12 to 3 p.m.

OPPORTUNITY VILLAGE’S GUITAR CHARITY

A concert under the stars takes place tomorrow to raise funds for our beloved Opportunity Village. A 16-piece band made up of the city’s who’s who of VIPs, including Paul Lowden, Christy Molasky, Janie and Jeff Gale, Jan Jones, Whitney DuBoef and Mike Novick will perform songs from the 1950s through the ’80s in the new amphitheater at O.V.’s campus at 6050 S. Buffalo. The Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip has donated several decorated and autographed Fender guitars, and you can bid on them online if you can’t attend at ovauctions.org. Members of Blue Man Group and, among others, the casts of Phantom and Jersey Boys did the fancy artwork.

ST. BALDRICK’S ATOP KILIMANJARO

Here at Vegas DeLuxe, we have reported and supported the efforts of our Las Vegas volunteers of St. Baldrick’s in the fight to beat children’s cancer. This morning, leg one of a five-leg climb on Mount Kilimanjaro got underway. Leg five will be completed Wednesday, and at the top of the summit, climbers Patrick McCarrick, Damian Hernandez and Jon Koot will each have their heads shaved in honor of the five St. Baldrick’s 2010 child ambassadors Khalid, Sara, Zoe, Ty and Averi, who represent the awful reality that 1 in 5 kids diagnosed with cancer will die. Before descending next week, the climbers will leave a keepsake from each of the children at the base of Uhuru Peak. We’ll have photos from Mount Kilimanjaro next week with the progress of the team’s ascent.

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.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

Share This