2024 Brings Amazing Las Vegas Entertainers to the Stage to Raise Awareness for Neurofibromatosis
Las Vegas’ top performers hit the stage on Sunday, October 20th to celebrate the 14th Annual NF Hope Concert and wow the audience to raise much-needed funding to fight against the often-misunderstood disorder of neurofibromatosis.
Jeff and Melody Leibow Photo by Dianne Davis
NF Hope Concert founders Jeff Leibow, of The Fourmers and of “Jersey Boys” fame, along with his wife Melody, bring back the annual event enlisting some of the city’s most celebrated entertainers at Myron’s Cabaret Jazz at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts.
The lobby opens at 11:30 a.m. for silent auction viewing, with the entertainment portion of the afternoon beginning at 1 p.m. on Sunday October 20th, 2024. Tickets start at $56.40 (including all fees) and can be purchased by calling 702-749-2000 or by visiting www.thesmithcenter.com/nfhope. For people who wish to watch the event from the comfort of home or outside of Nevada, livestream tickets are also available for the performance The NF Hope Concert benefits Neurofibromatosis Network, an organization dedicated to families and individuals suffering from Neurofibromatosis (NF).
Since the inaugural event in 2011, the NF Hope Concert has grown leaps and bounds with every passing year, with nearly $2 million raised for Neurofibromatosis research and advocacy, as well as producing events in three cities – Las Vegas, New York City, and Chicago. Hosted by consummate emcee, co-host of the Chet Buchanan show on KLUC-FM, and featured performer, Mikalah Gordon, 2024’s NF Hope Concert also features Las Vegas’ most famous anthem singer, Carnell “Golden Pipes” Johnson; GRAMMY Award-winning singer Delicious Kennedy of All-4-One fame; Emmy Award-winning recording artist and songwriter Steph Payne; the Las Vegas headliner Lorena Peril; and more, along with Jeff and Melody Leibow with a special guest appearance by daughter Emma, who now is a proud student at Las Vegas Academy of the Arts.
“The families battling this genetic condition are, and forever will be, the true heroes,” says Jeff Leibow. “They are the reason we’ve continued working relentlessly the last 14 years, and they, along with our daughter, are the reason we will always do everything we possibly can to make a difference.”
Neurofibromatosis (NF) is a genetic disorder of the nervous system characterized by tumors that can grow on any nerve in the body without warning. The Leibows’ young daughter, Emma, was diagnosed with this condition in 2010 when she was just nine months old. As Leibow and his wife, Melody, learned more about the disorder’s devastating effects, they conceived the idea for the concert with the realization that they had an obligation to both their family and the more than 130,000 people living with NF to educate others about the disorder. Although it is a common genetic disorder, most people are not aware that one in 2,500 people are born with it making it more common than cystic fibrosis, hereditary muscular dystrophy, Huntington’s disease, and Tay Sachs combined.
Emma continues to inspire her parents and those around her with her courage and resilience. Last summer, Emma had her third surgery, necessitated by a large tumor in her leg that stretches from her hip to her knee. Now mature enough to understand what it really means to have NF, Emma has been experiencing more of the mental toll that accompanies a neurofibromatosis diagnosis, which has been an eye-opener for the entire family. It has been a sobering reminder of what NF families face every day and the helplessness that NF parents can experience. It has emphasized for the Leibows why it is so important to continue raising awareness and funds to help fight this disorder to make a difference for Emma and the tens of thousands living with it.
“Emma’s NF journey continues to be fraught with challenges, sadly a common theme among kids confronting this insidious disorder,” says Melody Leibow. “The more grown up she gets, the more she understands the realities of having NF. For 13 years, we remained focused on the physical effects of NF including the surgeries necessitated by the disorder. Now, in addition to facing the common angsts of a teenager, the questions surrounding a life with neurofibromatosis has brought additional emotional challenges for Emma and our family. But it also fills us with inspiration to continue the work we do to support the community through NF Network’s invaluable programs.”
For 2024, the NF Hope Concert honors Jim and Maryanne Taglia with the Advocate of Hope Award. The Taglia’s have been supporting this cause for more than 12 years. Their kindness, generosity, and humility are just a few of the countless reasons they are being recognized this year. The Paul Bodner Memorial Award, an honor presented to a member of the NF community who exemplifies what it means to turn life’s lemons into the sweetest lemonade, will be presented to a surprise guest, who has used their talents to help raise awareness and funds for the cause and inspired members of the NF community to do the same.
Tickets start at $56.40, inclusive of all fees, and can be purchased at any box office at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, online vivia www.thesmithcenter.com/nfhope or by calling 702-749-2000 (TTY 800-326-6868).
The NF Hope Concert also features a lavish silent auction including priceless experiences, ticket packages to the top shows on the Strip, staycations at some of Las Vegas’ top hotels, dining experiences at the city’s most notable restaurants, and more. The auction will open for viewing at 11:30 a.m. on the day of the event. For more information on NF Hope, visit www.nfhope.org. You can follow NF Hope on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Las Vegas’ 14th Annual NF Hope Concert is brought to the stage by presenting sponsors SpringWorks Therapeutics and Alexion Pharmaceuticals.
Photos courtesy of the artists
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