Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Refusing to back down’: Power of Love gala raises money, honors Agassi

Keep Memory Alive 2017

L.E. Baskow

Andre Agassi and wife Stefanie Graf pose with celebrity Chef Michael Mina on the red carpet for Keep Memory Alive’s 21st annual Power of Love Gala inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena in support of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health on Thursday, April 27, 2017.

Keep Memory Alive 2017

TV host and radio personality Larry King smiles on the Red Carpet for Keep Memory Alive's 21st Annual Power of Love Gala inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena to continue its mission to raise funds and awareness in support of Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health on Thursday, April 27, 2017. Launch slideshow »

With nearly one in four U.S. adults suffering from some form of brain damage or neurological disorder, funding for research to cure such illnesses is needed more than ever, said philanthropist Larry Ruvo on Thursday at an annual fundraiser supporting a renowned Las Vegas research and treatment center named after his father.

Lou Ruvo, who died from complications of Alzheimer’s disease in 1994, has been the inspiration for the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. The center, which is ranked annually in the U.S. News and World Report’s “Honor Roll” for best hospitals, has served more than 108,000 patients and has trained over 400 medical professionals since opening its Las Vegas doors in 2010.

"Tonight is about continuing that promise and refusing to back down,” Ruvo said at the star-studded event, which featured a nearly two-hour red carpet ceremony followed by a three-hour gala. “It's to make sure our efforts continue.”

The 21st annual version of the Power of Love fundraising gala, held inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena, welcomed about 1,550 attendees, most of whom paid $1,500 to $5,000 per person for a seat at a table. Guests were treated to three-course meals featuring dishes from celebrity chefs Wolfgang Puck and Michael Mina. The arena-turned-ballroom featured shimmering streams of beads hanging from the ceiling with purple lighting illuminating the pink tablecloths and myriad wine glasses below.

Las Vegan Andre Agassi received the 2017 Keep Memory Alive Community Leadership award for what Ruvo called “passionate, compassionate” philanthropy and for “making education accessible for those who can’t afford it.” The former tennis player turned education philanthropist moved wife Stefanie Graf and others in the sold-out crowd to tears in announcing a $1 million donation to the center while on stage.

Agassi, whose foundation opened the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy in 2001, credited his high ambition and passion for tennis and education as reasons for his success in both fields, and ability to make a difference.

“I did dream, and I dreamt big,” Agassi said.

Businessman-philanthropist Ronald Perelman and entertainer Siegfried Fischbacher were also honored by Ruvo during the gala, and Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman also stepped briefly to the stage to announce ceremonial dates in 2017 named in their honor.

The event also featured both silent and live auctions, where everything from jewelry pieces to stays at Las Vegas Strip hotels and a spot on the Dallas Cowboys' team jet for a game this season were up for bid. A tennis lesson with Agassi and Graf sold for $85,000 during the live auction, while a limited-edition, marble Steinway grand piano coupled with a private performance by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli sold for $650,000.

Former Oakland and Los Angeles Raider Lester Hayes was one of five representatives of the NFL franchise in attendance on Thursday night, including owner Mark Davis, former head coach Tom Flores, former quarterback Jim Plunkett and former running back Napoleon McCallum.

Dressed in an all-white suit with white gator skin shoes and championship rings from Super Bowls XV and XVIII on his right hand, Hayes said the topic of brain health was of personal importance because of friends and family who suffered from Alzheimer’s. Hayes, who played 10 seasons with the Raiders from 1977 to 1986, said he did not believe he sustained significant brain damage during his time in the NFL but knew former teammates whose lives were negatively affected by head injuries.

“We need to keep researching so we can better understand head injuries,” Hayes said. “It’d be amazing if one day we could somehow prevent them.”

Thursday’s gala also featured musical performances by Jon Bon Jovi, who sang acoustic versions of “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” “Livin’ On A Prayer,” “You Give Love A Bad Name,” and covered the Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun.” Jennifer Hudson closed the evening with crooning renditions of hit singles “Hallelujah,” “Remember Me” and “I Still Love You” among others, bringing the emotionally moved crowd to a standing ovation.