Over 300 corporate, medical and community leaders were transported to “A Night in New York” at the American Heart Association of Broward County’s 2010 Heart Ball on Saturday, April 17th at the Westin Beach Resort in Ft. Lauderdale. The spectacular evening raised over $550,000 with proceeds benefiting the American Heart Association’s lifesaving research, education and community programs. The prestigious black-tie event brought together community and philanthropic leaders for an elegant night of dinner, dancing, live entertainment and a silent and live auction.
“Hundreds of guests enjoyed a magnificent evening for an incredibly important cause. Each and every one of us in some way, shape or form has been touched by disease – whether you personally or a loved one. As the No. 1 killer of both men and women, heart disease does not discriminate.” said Ovi Levy, CEO of Renato Watches and Co-Chairman and Heart Ball Signature Sponsor. “Truly, we united together in recognizing this and supporting the American Heart Association in its endless commitment to saving lives here in our community and throughout the entire nation. What a night!”
The captivating evening began with a cocktail hour, followed by a three-course sit down dinner evoking a glamorous New York style and flair. Highlights of the evening also included both a silent and live auction which raised $120,000 that evening (a portion of the total amount raised for the event). Featured live auction items included a 2004 Black and Gold Bourget Fat Daddy Chopper Motorcycle donated by Ted and Patti Morse, three 18 karat White Gold Bracelets donated by Levinson Jewelers and a Napa Valley/South Beach Food and Wine Festival Package (five day winery tour in Napa Valley and three tickets to the Friday night tasting of 2011 South Beach Food and Wine Festival), donated by Southern Wine And Spirits, Jet Blue Airways and Air Tran Airways.
Through events such as the Heart Ball, the American Heart Association is able to generate funds to expand meritorious biomedical research grants and subsidize researchers across the nation and right here in South Florida. In fact, since 1949, the American Heart Association has invested more than $3.2 billion in heart disease and stroke research. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer in America, and stroke is the No. 3 killer.
The 2010 Heart Ball spotlighted the American Heart Association’s Children Reach-Out Initiative. The focus is on building awareness of and preventing childhood obesity, as well as increasing support to those children whom already have heart disease. Nine of every 1,000 infants are born with a heart defect and the risk factors of childhood obesity are increasing every year. The Children Reach-Out Campaign is committed to stopping the increase in childhood obesity and reversing the trend by putting all young people on a road to good adult health by 2015.
Heart Ball sponsors included year-long American Heart Association sponsor Holy Cross Hospital, Signature Sponsors – Ovi Levy and Daniel Mink on behalf of Renato Watches, Platinum Society Sponsor – Ed Morse Automotive Group, and Gold Society Sponsors – Great HealthWorks, Inc. and PEDIATRIX Cardiology. On the corporate level, Levy and Mink served as the Heart Ball Corporate Chairman and Corporate Vice Chairman, respectively; and Patti Morse of the Ed Morse Automotive Group and Dr. Frank Scholl, Chief of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, served as Co-Chairs of the Children Reach-Out Campaign.
In addition to its focus on combating childhood obesity, the American Heart Association’s other leading initiatives include: Go Red For Women, a campaign which educates women heart disease is their No. 1 health threat; Start!, a call to action that evokes active, year-round participation in walking and Power To End Stroke, a campaign that raises awareness about stroke while celebrating the culture, creativity and energy of African Americans.
The American Heart Association is committed to fighting heart disease and stroke and raising awareness of these diseases. Part of their mission is focusing on specific causes designed to help people achieve a heart-healthy lifestyle. Each of the American Heart Association’s initiatives reaches out to the public with resources and information to help them take positive action. For information, please call the American Heart Association of Broward County or visit www.americanheart.org.