Keep Memory Alive Honors Las Vegas Local Jimmy Kimmel
The annual Keep Memory Alive charity gala honored Las Vegas born comedian and late night host Jimmy Kimmel at its 2025 event Saturday night. The post Keep Memory Alive Honors Las Vegas Local Jimmy Kimmel appeared first on Haute Living.
Photo Credit: Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for Keep Memory Alive
Keep Memory Alive honored comedian and late night host Jimmy Kimmel at the annual Power of Love gala on Saturday, Feb. 22 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. An esteemed lineup of entertainers came together to celebrate the Las Vegas native and host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” including Anthony Anderson, Jason Bateman, Kristen Bell, Billy Crystal, Jeff Ross, and Dax Shepard.
Photo Credit: Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for Keep Memory Alive
The gala is a vital platform to generate funds to enable the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health to find, fund, and facilitate the most effective and innovative research, treatment, and educational support programming for patients and their families affected by brain disorders, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, multiple system atrophy and multiple sclerosis.
Photo Credit: Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for Keep Memory Alive
Other notable guests in attendance included Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Lisa Vanderpump, Ken Todd, Julie Chen Moonves, Gretchen Rossi, Slade Smiley, Shelley Hennig, Mark Davis, Steven Lagos, and Maria Shriver, founder of The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement Prevention and Research Center at Cleveland Clinic and chief visionary and strategic advisor of the Women’s Comprehensive Health and Research Center.
Photo Credit: Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for Keep Memory Alive
Keep Memory Alive co-founders Camille and Larry Ruvo reflected on three decades of groundbreaking achievements. Larry highlighted the center’s evolution from its initial focus on Alzheimer’s to addressing a range of neurodegenerative diseases, earning recognition as one of just 52 Parkinson’s Centers of Excellence worldwide and its designation as a National Multiple Sclerosis Society Center for Comprehensive MS Care.
Photo Credit: Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images for Keep Memory Alive
He also spoke about pioneering initiatives like the The WAM Prevention and Research Center, and the Angie Ruvo Caregiving Chair, which has helped facilitate more than 150,000 visits to the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health’s no-cost community and caregiver educational, therapeutic and support programming. He closed with a powerful statement, “We are changing the world, not just Nevada.” Judge Judy Sheindlin then presented Top Rank founders Lovee and Bob Arum with the Community Leadership Award for their extraordinary philanthropic commitment to Keep Memory Alive and numerous other nonprofit organizations.
Photo Credit: Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for Keep Memory Alive
It was a night celebrating the power of laughter as Kimmel’s friends took turns sharing stories and memories in his honor. Bell and Shepard delighted the audience with a personal video of Kimmel attempting to roller skate, calling him “the most thoughtful and generous friend.” Crystal recalled being Kimmel’s first-ever interview and praised his support during the LA fires, noting Kimmel was among the first to call when his house burned down and turned his show’s backlot into a donation center for affected families.
Photo Credit: Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images for Keep Memory Alive
Ross brought the house down with a signature roast, joking about Kimmel’s Nevada roots and that he grew up “somewhere around Area 51.” He took a moment to recognize medical professionals and caregivers, sharing his experience caring for his grandfather and noting the significance of National Caregivers Day, which fell just a day before the gala. Bateman and Kimmel’s childhood priest from Las Vegas, Rev. Bill Kenny, joined sidekick Guillermo, dressed as Elvis, to present Kimmel with the evening’s honor. Kimmel reflected on his Las Vegas upbringing, acknowledging the presence of his family and childhood friends in the audience.
Photo Credit: Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for Keep Memory Alive
“When I was in high school at Clark High School, I delivered pizza and one of the cassette tapes I would listen to was a Billy Crystal comedy album,” he said. “If you had told me that 40 years later, he would fly out here three weeks after his house burned down to honor me, I wouldn’t have been able to wrap my head around it.” Kimmel also spoke about his personal connection to the clinic’s work, sharing how his own family members had benefited from its expertise. “They are doing amazing things that this city can be very proud of,” he said, before taking the mic to sing a rendition of Neil Diamond’s “Heartlight” with Cleto and the Cletones before Earth, Wind & Fire kept the celebration going with electrifying performances of hits like “Let’s Groove” and “Boogie Wonderland” with a rousing finale of “September.”
Photo Credit: Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for Keep Memory Alive
The live auction was full of energy, with bidding wars over priceless experiences with celebrities like David Beckham, Johnny Depp, Mark Wahlberg, and Helen Mirren. The evening’s gourmet dinner was prepared by chefs Wolfgang Puck and Thomas Keller, and paired with wines from Southern Glazer’s Wine, Spirits & Beer of Nevada, followed by a dazzling dessert display from the MGM Grand pastry team.
Photo Credit: Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images for Keep Memory Alive
The post Keep Memory Alive Honors Las Vegas Local Jimmy Kimmel appeared first on Haute Living.
