Jimmy Kimmel is honoring his late friend Cleto Escobedo by raising money for worthy causes through a pair of fundraisers set up in his honor.
The talk show host revealed the plan on Instagram this past Friday, sharing that the late musician was always eager to help others. To mourn his loss and continue his good work, Kimmel and supporters have launched two fundraisers dedicated to causes Cleto cared deeply about.
The first fundraiser benefits the UCLA Medical Center, where Cleto received exceptional care near the end of his life. The second supports The Animal Foundation in Las Vegas—Cleto’s hometown—in recognition of his love for animals.
According to reports, Cleto passed away from cardiogenic shock, a condition where the heart is unable to pump sufficient blood to sustain life. The underlying causes included vasodilatory shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver. He has already been cremated.
Kimmel and Escobedo grew up together in Las Vegas. Jimmy played a key role in making Cleto the leader of the band Cleto and the Cletones, and brought him onto his talk show when it launched in 2003.
Earlier this week, Kimmel paid an emotional tribute to Cleto on his show, breaking down in tears as he remembered his longtime friend. Cleto was 59 years old.
https://www.tmz.com/2025/11/15/jimmy-kimmel-starts-fundraiser-cleto-escobedo-honor/
