PALM BEACH, Fla.
(January 7, 2010) — Thirty guests, including many
elegant past chairs and the current committee of the
Palm Beach Heart Ball, welcomed one of this year’s
chairs, Melania Trump,
at the traditional Chairmen’s Luncheon held at Mar-a-Lago
on Jan. 2. The intimate, festive gathering honored both
of the 2010 chairs,
Melania Trump and
Petra Levin,
and paid tribute to the Ball’s illustrious heritage.
Stacey Dowdle,
vice president of the American Heart Association’s
Greater Southeast Affiliate, surprised the guests with
the announcement that the organization has already
raised $1 million through the 55th Annual
Palm Beach Heart Ball, even before the gala invitations
were in their envelopes.
Past chairmen in
attendance ranged from
Countess Rutilia Poli
Sandri Burck who chaired in 1970, to
Arlette Gordon
who served the 2009 Heart Ball. Other guests included
Trudy Brekus, Etonella
Christlieb, Randie Dalia, Norma Fireman, Robin Fleming,
Lynda Foster, Barbara Gilbert, Judy Grubman, Cynthia
Kasper, BJ Kemp, Richard and Karen LeFrak, Kathlyn
Maguire, Jessica Marulli, Ashley Mick, Sally Robinson,
Lore Smith, Patsy Spero, and
Joyce Vaughn.
The 2010 event will be
held at The Mar-a-Lago Club on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010.
The International Honorary Chairman for the 2010 event
is Sir Elton John;
National Honorary Chairman
Donald J. Trump;
Honorary Chairmen
Dame Celia Lipton Farris,
Patrick Park
and Nathalie
Fernandez De LaValle;
Legacy Chairman
Anne Eisenhower;
Luxury Chairman Henri
Barguirdjian of GRAFF; and Fashion Ambassador
Michael Kors.
GRAFF and MICHAEL KORS are the Grand Benefactors of the
2010 event.
The storied Palm Beach
Heart Ball holds a place in the national spotlight as
the oldest Heart Ball in the nation, and the
longest continuously held charity event in Palm
Beach.
The event has
established itself as a driving force in advancing the
key initiatives of the American Heart Association,
including significantly combating heart disease and
stroke, the No.1 and No. 3 leading cause of death in men
and women in the United States.
To date, the Palm Beach
Heart Ball has raised more than $18 million for the
American Heart Association, making it one of the top
single fundraising events nationwide. As chairman
of the 2008 Palm Beach Heart Ball,
Kathryn C. Vecellio
helped raise a record-breaking $2.38 million for the
national association – the most successful Heart Ball in
the national association’s history. Impressively,
the American Heart Association reached another milestone
in 2009 – the organization raised more than $3.2 billion
in research dollars to date, which has effectively
changed the face of medicine globally.
In addition to hundreds
of other medical institutions across the country, over
the last ten years, the American Heart Association has
supported the Cleveland Clinic Foundation with $32
million in research dollars; Johns Hopkins
University with $44 million; Scripps
with $16 million; and the University of Miami with $26 million to fund their
scientists’ live-saving work. Although research is the
number one priority, the American Heart Association
funds local educational programs to prevent
cardiovascular diseases and stroke, including CPR,
school programs and educational programs for patients,
caretakers and healthcare professionals.
For more information,
please contact Samantha Whiteman,
Gala Director, American Heart
Association,
at (561) 697-6607.
About
the American Heart Association
Founded in 1924, the
American Heart Association is the nation’s oldest and
largest voluntary health organization dedicated to
building healthier lives, free of heart disease and
stroke. These diseases, America’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers,
and all other cardiovascular diseases claim nearly
870,000 lives a year. In fiscal year 2007-2008, the
association invested nearly $560 million in research,
professional and public education, and advocacy and
community service programs to help all Americans live
longer, healthier lives.
To learn more, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit