PRESS RELEASE Contact: Amanda Shepherd Keep Memory Alive 702-222-4444
Celebrities Raise Money for New Alzheimer’s Research Center Las Vegas -- The 9th annual Keep Memory Alive benefit, presented by Larry Ruvo, senior managing director of Southern Wine and Spirits, raised more than $6 million for Alzheimer’s research. The event was held on August 12, 2007 at the new Bellagio spa tower. The money raised will help build the Lou Ruvo Alzheimer’s center, a 35,000 sq. ft revolutionary treatment and research center. The center will include 13 examination rooms, offices for health practitioners and a 2,500 sq. ft auditorium. Honorees included Guy Laliberte, Cirque du Soleil producer, and the Bobby Baldwin family, CEO of Bellagio. A live auction was hosted by Ed Mcmahon and Robin Leach. Dinner with “Desperate Housewives” star Terri Hatcher on the set of the hit TV show sold for $125,000. Dinner with Nicole Kidman and a private screening of her new film “Bewitched” sold for $225,000. A chance to play poker with champions, Bobby Baldwin, Doyle Brunson, and Chip Reese and an automatic seat in the World Poker Tour Tournament was so popular, it sold for $250,000 “Friends from around the world came to honor the Baldwin and Ruvo families,” Ruvo said. “Their incredible support will provide a much needed alzheimer center which I predict will not only be the best in Nevada but the finest in the nation.” Laliberte was presented with an original Peter Marx portrait in his liking, which celebrated the color and creativity he brought to Las Vegas with Cirque du Soleil. Meal was provided by celebrity chefs Wolfgang Puck, Jean Gorges-Vongerichten, Martin Heierling and Jean-Philippe Maury. Grammy award winning musical Lionel Ritchie performed some of his greatest hits. ###