Vegas Magazine - Niche Media - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/733014
Six years ago Dr. Kate Zhong arrived in Las Vegas with her husband, Dr. Jeffrey Cummings, on a mission: to lead the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health's clinical research efforts in finding new treatments for Parkinson's, traumatic brain injury, and Alzheimer's. The latter is at the heart of Keep Memory Alive, the foundation created by Larry Ruvo in honor of his father, which supports the Cleveland Clinic. "Every 60 seconds here in the U.S. someone will be diagnosed with Alzheimer's," says Zhong. "It's becoming an epidemic." While Zhong recently left her post to join the Global Alzheimer's Platform, she'll continue to work closely with the Cleveland Clinic and champion the goals of Keep Memory Alive. "One of our missions is to help people cherish their memories and to help them keep their memories alive for now and for many years to come." keepmemoryalive.org When Realtor Tanya Murray's 14-year-old son was diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes last year, a disease she'd only loosely understood came into stark focus. While he spent four days in the pediatric ICU, Murray got a crash course in pancreatic function, insulin and blood sugar, as well as an email from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). "When your head is just spinning," she says, JDRF is a "lifeline." Dedicated to improving the treatment of and finding a cure for type 1 diabetes, the organization also does vital outreach, letting families confronted with a fundamental change know that they're not alone. Murray joined the JDRF Nevada chapter board earlier this year, and today she and her son have become experts in managing his disease. "He just got back from a three-week study program in Cambridge, England, that he went to by himself," Murray says. "Because of the research that JDRF tirelessly works for and campaigns for, he was able to do that." jdrf.com vegasmagazine.com 97 Kate Zhong Keep MeMory Alive lauri thompson NevAdA BAllet theAtre As secretary of the board of trustees for Nevada Ballet Theatre, Lauri Thompson has an insider understand- ing of the long-running company. But her relationship with NBT goes much deeper. The shareholder attorney at Greenberg Traurig originally moved to Las Vegas in 1980 as a ballet dancer and spent two years performing with the company. Today, Thompson is less focused on pointed toes and pirouettes and more excited about the company's outreach to local students through the in-school Future Dance program. "They develop self-esteem, a strong work ethic. Dance isn't just about succeeding at dance," Thompson says. The former ballerina also stresses NBT's wide-rang- ing repertoire and its efforts to connect with the greater Vegas community. "A lot of people have a preconceived notion that ballet is Swan Lake. Ballet is a wide variety of dance. Ballet is for everyone." nevadaballet.org tanya murray JuveNile diABetes reseArch FouNdAtioN