PALM BEACH, Fla.-
February 23, 2009- Filled with picturesque
romance and enchantment in true Valentine’s
Day fashion, the 54th Annual Palm
Beach Heart Ball, entitled “Hearts & Roses”
drew over 300 guests to The Breakers on
Saturday, February 14, to raise funds for
the lifesaving work of the American Heart
Association. The Palm Beach Heart Ball once
again proved its distinguished reputation
and prestige as one of the most-anticipated
events of the social season as well as the
oldest, most established Heart Ball in the
nation and longest continuous charity event
in
Palm Beach! The
following well-heeled supporters were awash
in red and seen at the Ball in all their
lovely splendor: Patrick Park and Nathalie
Fernandez de La Valle, Robert and Sue
Tomsich, Lois Pope, Gail Worth and Mel
Freidland, Suzi Goldsmith, Petra Levin,
Daniel Dresbach, Alexis and Veronica
Mersentes, Patty Myura, Linda and Ed Dweck,
Miss America 2009 Katie Stam, Ruth and Ray
Perleman, Ave Coleman, Brownie Mclean and
Michael Minello, Denise Alexander, Nancy &
Walter Raquet, Monika & John Preston,
Anushka Blau, Kathryn and Leo Vecellio,
Baroness Gabriella Von Langendorf and Sheik
Abdula Thuraya, Helen Boehm, Barbara Katz
and Jim Kinnear to name a few.
Co-Chairmen of the 54th annual
gala Arlette B. Gordon and Elizabeth M.
Bowden graciously embraced the opportunity
to give from the “heart” to the “heart” for
this Valentine’s Day event. Their support
of the American Heart Association and vision
was instrumental to the success of the 2009
Palm Beach Heart Ball raising nearly 1
million dollars, including a special
night-of gift 30,000 dollar pledge by Larry
De George in honor of his parents 09
Lifetime Achievement Award.
“We are thrilled with the outpouring support
offered to us by our committee and Heart
Ball attendees this year that truly made our
chairmanship a lifelong memory and tribute
to the American Heart Association.”
The American Heart Association was delighted
to welcome newly crowned Miss America 2009
Katie Stam as the evening’s Guest of Honor
in her first charitable appearance
since her January 24 crowning. Stam, age
22, of
Seymour,
IN., welcomed guests and made the formal
introduction of Gordon and Bowden as both
ladies made their way up to the podium to be
recognized for their Chairmanship. Her
triumphant walk across the stage the evening
she won her title and her appearance at the
Palm Beach Heart Ball mark just the
beginning of a journey that will take Stam
to every corner of the country during her
year of service as Miss America 2009,
totaling 20,000 miles each month.
The American Heart Association, its Greater
Southeast Affiliate, Palm Beach Heart Ball
Advisory Board and the 2009 Heart
Ball Committee were honored to present Mr.
and Mrs. Lawrence J. De George with the
prestigious Inaugural Lifetime
Achievement Award at the Heart Ball.
Their dedication and continued support of
the lifesaving work of American Heart
Association over the last 15 years has truly
been an inspiration to others.
Honorary Chairmen for the 54th
Annual Palm Beach Heart Ball were Kathryn C.
Vecellio, Patrick M. Park & Nathalie
Fernandez De LaValle, and Lawrence J. &
Florence A. De George.
As the American Heart Association, through
the generosity of its volunteers, is
“building healthier lives,
free of cardiovascular diseases
and stroke,” the Palm Beach Heart
Ball continues to hold a place in the
national spotlight as the oldest Heart Ball
in the country and the longest continuous
charity event in Palm Beach. The event has established itself
as a leading force in advancing the key
initiatives of the American Heart
Association aimed at significantly combating
heart disease and stroke, the No.1 and No. 3
leading health offenders of both American
men and women.
The Palm Beach Heart Ball Advisory Board
included: Pamela Dupuis, Norma Fireman,
Arlette B. Gordon, Mrs. Curt E. Gowdy,
Judith Grubman, BJ Kemp, Sydell Miller,
Sharon O’Neill, Sally Robinson, Diann
Scaravilli, Alice Tarone, Joyce Vaughn and
Kathryn C. Vecellio.
The Palm Beach Heart Ball committee was made
up of the following individuals: Corinne
Barr, Trudy Brekus, Cindy Cerone, Mercedes
Cassidy, Etonella Christlieb, Audrey
Colflesh, Lori Corrigan, Angela DeFina,
Pamela DeFina, Linda Dunmire, Elaine
Edwards, Henry Fong, Barbara Gilbert, Robert
G. Gordon, Carole Hepburn, Cynthia Kasper,
BJ Kemp, Nanette Kiefer, Jessica Marulli,
Marietta McNulty, Paula Michel, Masako
O’Brien, Beth Pine, Susan Reymond, Irene
Casey Ritzenthaler, Lore Smith, Alice Tarone,
Mary Frances Turner and Joyce Vaughn, and
Kathryn C. Vecellio.
Sponsors in support of the 54th
Annual Palm Beach Heart Ball included:
Mr. and Mrs. David Chase, Mr. and Mrs.
Richard Devos, Mr. and Mrs. Leo A. Vecellio,
Jr. Mr. Robert N. Wildrick, Mrs. Elizabeth
M. Bowden, Mr. and Mrs. Luis Dorelle, Mr.
and Mrs. Robert G. Gordon, Ambassador and
Mrs. Henry L. Kimelman, Mr. and Mrs. Robert
J. Tomsich , Ms. Joan Wegner, Braman
Motorcars, St. John Boutique, Mrs. Harold
Bernstein, Mr. and Mrs. Simon C. Fireman,
Mrs. Miles Fiterman, Mr. Henry Fong,
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Gurwin, Mr. and Mrs.
Stanley Karp, Mr. and Mrs. Howard J.
Kessler, Mr. James Mahoney,
Mrs. Sydell L. Miller,
Mrs. Herme De Wyman Miro,
The Fortin Foundation Of Florida, Mr. and
Mrs. Kenneth Richter, Mr. and Mrs. Carl J.
Shapiro , Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Spero and Mr.
Thomas Quick.
For further information about the American
Heart Association or the Palm Beach Heart
Ball, call Stacey A. Dowdle, Vice President, Palm Beach at 561-697-6614.