Top Talent to Honor Lionel Richie with Performances at Keep Memory Alive’s 23rd Annual Power of Love® Gala
Spectacular Night of Philanthropy to Benefit Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health
Keep Memory Alive announces a star-studded line up of performers set to honor international superstar Lionel Richie at the 23rd annual Power of Love® gala on Saturday, March 16 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The one-of-a-kind celebration of life and signature Las Vegas event raises crucial funds for Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health.
Paying tribute to Richie and generously lending their time and talents to Keep Memory Alive’s largest fundraising event of the year is multi-Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter, actor and judge on NBC’s dance competition show “World of Dance” NE-YO; Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter and Billboard chart topper Miguel; multi-Grammy award nominee and seven-time Brit Award nominee, singer-songwriter and actress Leona Lewis; New York Yankee great turned jazz guitarist and Latin Grammy award nominee Bernie Williams; multiple award-winning singer-songwriter, actor, director, activist and star of FOX’s “Empire” Jussie Smollett; and American keyboardist, singer-songwriter and musical director Greg Phillinganes.
The Power of Love® gala is a critical platform for fundraising and generates the majority of annual revenue needed to provide service, care and resources for patients and their caregivers in the fight against neurocognitive diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, multiple system atrophy, frontotemporal dementia and related disorders, multiple sclerosis and more.
“Brain disease does not belong to the patients alone, but their entire families. A caregiver’s job is 24/7, 365 days a year,” said Camille Ruvo, Keep Memory Alive vice-chairwoman. “We are honored to welcome these incredible artists to the lineup for this year’s Power of Love® gala, which allows us to fund the remarkable work being done at Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health.”
In addition to celebrating the iconic music of Richie, the evening will honor Lonnie Ali, wife and caregiver of the late Muhammad Ali, with the Keep Memory Alive Caregiver Hero Award. The award pays tribute to those who have gone above and beyond to care for those who are unable to care for themselves and Ali’s grace and selflessness make her a true caregiving hero.
Longtime Keep Memory Alive supporter and celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck will be joined by James Beard Foundation seven-time award-winner Daniel Humm of Eleven Madison Park, The NoMad (in New York, Los Angeles and the recently opened Las Vegas outpost) and Davies and Brook, his forthcoming restaurant at Claridge’s in London, to prepare culinary creations for the evening. Guests will dine, drink and donate with an exceptional silent auction, crafted cocktails, exquisite fare and top entertainment.
“Without the success of the Power of Love® gala, Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health would not be able to provide this level of care for patients and their families,” said Larry Ruvo, founder and chairman of Keep Memory Alive. “From valuable support resources to research, medical education and much, much more, it is Keep Memory Alive’s commitment to continue our mission to find a cure tomorrow, while preserving memories today.”
For event updates, upcoming announcements or additional information, visit keepmemoryalive.org or follow on Instagram @keepmemoryalive, Twitter @keepmemoryalive and facebook.com/keepmemoryalive.
About Lionel Richie
International superstar Lionel Richie has a discography of albums and singles that are second to none. His music is part of the fabric of pop music; in fact, Richie is one of only two songwriters in history to achieve the honor of having #1 records for nine consecutive years. Richie has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide and is an Oscar®, a Golden Globe®, and four-time Grammy Awards® winner. He received the distinction of MusicCares person of the year in 2016 and was a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2017. In March 2018, Richie put his handprints and footprints in cement at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX in Hollywood, one of the oldest awards in Hollywood. Lionel Richie is known for his early work with The Commodores as well as for his solo mega-hits including “Endless Love,” “Lady,” “Truly,” “All Night Long,” “Penny Lover,” “Stuck on You,” “Hello,” “Say You, Say Me,” “Dancing on the Ceiling,” and one of the most important pop songs in history, “We Are the World,” written with Michael Jackson for USA for Africa. With his most recent All the Hits, All Night Long Tour, Richie sold out arenas worldwide with a set list of his brightest and best anthems. In recent years, he has also headlined festivals including Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, and Glastonbury, drawing the festival’s biggest crowd ever with more than 200,000 attendees. Richie was a judge on ABC’s American Idol this past season and is returning to the ‘Judge’s’ chair for the 2019 season.
About Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health
Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health provides expert diagnosis and treatment for individuals and families living with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases; multiple sclerosis; frontotemporal dementia and related disorders; and multiple system atrophy. The center offers a continuum of care with no-cost opportunities for the community to participate in education and research, including disease prevention studies and clinical trials of promising new medications. An integrated entity, Keep Memory Alive, raises funds exclusively in support of the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit clevelandclinic.org/brainhealth and keepmemoryalive.org.
About Keep Memory Alive
Keep Memory Alive, whose mission is to provide enhanced treatment and ultimately cures for patients and their families suffering from neurocognitive disorders, raises awareness and funds in support of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. By supporting Keep Memory Alive and its fight against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, Parkinson’s, ALS and memory disorders of all kinds, we can ensure progress towards better treatments and ultimately cures will occur in Las Vegas. For additional information, call (702) 263-9797 or visit keepmemoryalive.org.