Las Vegas charity event with Andrea Bocelli - party with the Clooneys auction

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Keep Memory Alive ‘Power of Love’ gala live auction raises $4.4 Million

It was such an ultimate, star-studded night of glamour, glitz, wining, dining and megabucks that it might never be repeated ever again in Las Vegas.
Celebrities and VIPs included honoree Andrea Bocelli and his wife, Veronica; Caesars headliner Celine Dion, who flew in from Boston to duet with him; actress Sharon Stone with Quincy Jones, birthday boy Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn; Westgate Las Vegas headliner Suzanne Somers and husband Alan Hamel; and 2014 honorees Gloria and Emilio Estefan.
Also: singer Martina McBride; singer Robin Thicke; singer George Benson; “The Sopranos” star Steve Schirripa and his wife, Laura; singer Clint Holmes and his wife, Kelly Clinton-Holmes; TV personality Holly Madison and Pasquale Rotella; and Stratosphere headliner Claire Sinclair (“Pin Up”).
It was the 19th annual “Power of Love” fundraising gala for our Keep Memory Alive charity that funds the work and research of our downtown Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health that fights Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative brain diseases. Our thanks to L.E. Baskow of the Las Vegas Sun and Tom Donoghue of Donoghue Photography for their photo galleries and Richard Corey for his video of the arrivals carpet.
MGM Grand Garden Arena was magically transformed from a sports and concert venue into a glittering and magical fairytale for 1,500 guests. Celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis and Wolfgang Puck’s chefs served an amazing four-course dinner with 150 sommeliers pouring vintage Dom Perignon and wines. Giada, after all the hard work in the kitchen, introduced George Benson onstage.
Songs by Gloria, Martina and Robin were emotional and moving, but the night belonged to Italian superstar Andrea, who was introduced by Sharon (“Basic Instinct,” “Casino”). He first sang “Voglio Vivere Cosi,” followed by “Mamma” in Italian with an orchestra of 40 and the house band of 10 others led by conductor William Ross and musical director Greg Phillinganes.
Andrea in a tribute to Las Vegas and Elvis Presley switched over to English for “Can’t Help Falling In Love” and then ended his four-song set with longtime fan favorite “Con Te Partiro.”
He then welcomed Celine to the stage, and together they sang “The Prayer.” It was her first time singing in public since the yearlong absence from her Colosseum shows to take care of husband Rene Angelil and his brutal battle with throat cancer.
She’d flown in from his bedside at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and after the performance flew directly back to him. “Rene wanted me to come, and, after making the promise to attend, I wasn’t going to let anybody down” she said. Our exclusive Q+A with Celine was posted a few hours ago.
Celine’s voice was in great form: heavenly, angelic and marvelous. It was as if the duo had never stopped singing together. No lyric sheets or music in front of them. No TelePrompTer with the words. Everybody in the arena, from servers to guests, was mesmerized and teary-eyed during the cheers and standing ovation.
“Simply magical, overwhelming and beyond beautiful,” KMA founder Larry Ruvo told me. Larry also made a toast to Siegfried celebrating his 75th birthday at the gala. It was such an emotional night that officials at NV Energy made a donation of $1.3 million. But the money didn’t stop there.
I had the honor and privilege to serve as the voice of KMA as MC of the auction. Twelve couples each shelled out $200,000 apiece for an Italian tour by Andrea with a visit to the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel and a concert at his home. Tony Bennett, Reba McEntire and The Band Perry are just a few of the celebrities also on the trip.
George Clooney’s invitation with new wife, Amal, his Casamigos tequila partner Rande Gerber and wife supermodel Cindy Crawford to a party in London was purchased after spirited bidding by two people for $100,000 each. Two others paid $45,000 each for Andre Agassi’s private tennis lessons, and one week at David Copperfield’s vacation paradise in the Bahamas sold for $100,000.
Four days at Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island resort in the Caribbean brought in $45,000. A fishing trip with star chef Michael Mina sold twice for $35,000 each; a San Diego Chargers game added $60,000; and luxury boat trips in the Mediterranean, Australia and British Columbia totaled up another $360,000.
A rare barrel of cognac with 250 engraved decanters for the golden liquid inside sold for $200,000. Architect Frank Gehry donated a child’s playhouse, which sold for $225,000; two sets of tickets to the winter Victoria’s Secret fashion show sold for $40,000 each; and Muhammad Ali’s boxing trunks from his Joe Frazier “Thrilla in Manilla” fight sold for $120,000.
A stunning, custom-designed, 57.30-carat necklace donated by the Lynne Ruffin-Smith charitable foundation and its president, R.T. Smith, raised $80,000. In all, it was $4.4 million from the live auction, all of which goes to the charity.
Proceeds from additional silent auction items, ticket sales and individual table pledges of $85,000 to buy a red flashing heart pin are still being totaled today and should all make it one of the most successful charity events ever in Las Vegas.
Cleveland Clinic’s Dr. Toby Cosgrove commented: “We are facing one of the greatest health crises in modern time. There are no cures. There are few good treatments. More and more Americans are aging into the high-risk years for movement disorders and memory loss. Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and age-related dementia are rising to all-time highs.
“These are diseases that rob individuals of independence and identity. We are providing hope and launching a massive, all-out effort to discover new treatments and cures. Right here in Las Vegas, the Brain Health Center is offering the largest group of clinical trials currently underway anywhere.”
KMA founder Larry Ruvo summed up: “Since our opening a short 5 1/2 years ago, our excellent programs have forever changed the course of the horrific brain diseases for the world. It’s all happened right here in Las Vegas, so this time what happens in Vegas benefits the rest of the world.
“We have the largest neuroscience footprint in America. We have the No. 1 clinical-trial programs in America. We are recognized as one of the leading brain health centers in America.”
Now this week, with no time for rest, plans get underway at the first meeting Wednesday for next year’s star-studded, 20th annual fundraiser. This one, already hailed as the best yet, will take some beating, but Las Vegas can — and will — do it!

Wow that is very nice attending a party with the Clooneey's and Gerber's will be nice.

Now I want to know more....Will the Party be in their new home or do they organise a charity party itself?

Wonder if i can attend too   I want to Party with George

Nicky80 wrote:Now I want to know more....Will the Party be in their new home or do they organise a charity party itself?

Wonder if i can attend too   I want to Party with George

For $100,000 I would like to think the Clooneys would host a party at their new home maybe later in the year.  A little more personable than a restaurant or hotel.  But just guessing.  Nicky maybe there is some delicate way you could crash the party.  Bring a bottle of Casamigos with you as your ticket in.

Well, kick Amal, Rande and Cindy out of there and I'd go to that party!!!!

I like to be invited to this party too just george and the boys. bg