Vince Neil Raises Over $750,000 for MSA Charity With ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ Victory
Vince Neil not only led his team to victory on tonight's episode of The New Celebrity Apprentice, he also raised more than three quarters of a million dollars for a charity dedicated to fighting a disease that recently claimed the life of one of his friends.
After laying rather low during the first of the night's two challenges -- his televised contributions consisted mainly of posing for photographs with his beloved yorkie for a Kawasaki ad campaign -- Neil pounced on the opportunity to lead his team on the season's first fundraising challenge.
But first, the former Motley Crue singer was confronted with a big surprise. After noting that Neil and his all-male squad won four of the season's first five challenges, host Arnold Schwarzenegger switched both him and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy host Carson Kressley over to the former all-female team in hopes of adding some creative balance.
After telling his new partners that he had commitments totaling $200,000 lined up already, Neil volunteered to make his debut as project manager as the celebrities developed and sold a new candy for Warren Buffett's See's Candies. "I love chocolate, I love money," Neil quipped. "So let's put it all together."
Thanks to contributions from both star-struck Motley Crue fans and wealthy friends such as Carrot Top, Hooters Restaurant and a strip club, Neil's team raised more than $378,000, and earned an additional $25,000 for having their candy win a taste test judged by Buffett himself.
That was enough to beat the team led by former NFL star Ricky Williams, and as a result, the entire amount raised by both teams -- more than $769,000 -- went to Keep Memory Alive, Neil's charity of choice.
Keep Memory Alive supports the mission of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. Neil says he was inspired to support the charity because of the 2015 death of his friend Kerry Simon, the "Rock n' Roll Chef," from Multiple System Atrophy. "Here was a guy who didn't drink, no drugs, he worked out every day, and I saw that, and [I thought], 'we have to find a cure for that.'"
Neil's new teammate, WNBA star Lisa Leslie, was quick to say that he did a great job. "Vince, we already know is clearly a rock star, but he really knocked it out of the park," she said. "When you hear one call happen and it [raises] $100,000, that really sets the bar. ... It was a great time with this new team and we were very efficient."
You can help Neil raise even more money for Keep Memory Alive in advance of next week's episode of The New Celebrity Apprentice. NBC is running an online poll asking fans to support their favorite star and charity through votes and donations. As a bonus, you might even win big prizes from Carnival Cruises.
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