Heart Ball

The Greater Washington Heart Ball has moved to the District this year, and for the first time ever will take place at the iconic National Building Museum and will be adding a young professional’s event, Heart After Dark that will take place in conjunction with the Heart Ball. American Heart Month activities are rounded out with this black-tie affair. Proceeds from the Heart Ball and Heart After Dark benefit lifesaving research and education and advocacy campaigns by the American Heart Association. Heart disease remains the No. 1 killer of people in the United States today.

WHAT:  The Heart Ball is a premier society even and a celebration of the life-saving work of the American Heart Association. The event brings together more than 500 of the region’s most prominent physician, corporate, health care, and community leaders. The night will be hosted by actor, director, producer, writer, composer and heart survivor, Robby Benson. Benson is best known for starring in films such as “Ice Castles”, “Ode to Billy Joe”, “The Chosen”, “Running Brave”, in his own screenplay for the Warner Bros. basketball classic, “One on One” and to a new generation as the voice of Beast in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.” The night will also feature a live performance piece of Christopher Janney’s “HeartBeat” sung by music sensations, The Persuasions. The evening includes, live and silent auctions, dinner, dancing and special presentations to honor the United States Military and support organizations through the Heart Heroes program.  Also new this year, there will be an after party for young professionals.

WHEN: Saturday, February 23, 2013, 6:30pm-1:00am

• ·         6:30 p.m. – Cocktail Reception, Silent Auction
• ·         7:30 p.m. – Opening remarks, Dinner, Live Auction
• ·         9:00 p.m. – Heart After Dark hosts a private reception upstairs
• ·         10:00 p.m. – Heart After Dark joins the Heart Ball for dancing and live entertainment
• ·         1:00 a.m. – Evening concludes

WHERE: The National Building Museum, 401 F St NW   

WHO: 

• ·         Actor and survivor Robby Benson – event host
• ·         Matt Voorhees, Chief Executive Office/Co-Founder of Anybill and 2013 Heart Ball Chair
• ·         Heart Hero Honorees and survivor honorees
• ·         Prominent business leaders, cardiologists, dignitaries and AHA Leadership

WHY:  Events such as the Heart Ball bring the community together to raise awareness of heart disease and stroke and raise money for research. The fact is that heart disease kills more people annually than the next five causes of death combined – and this is a shocking statistic to many. The key is to raise awareness on issues like the fact that while 1 in 31 women will die of breast cancer, almost one in three will die from a cardiovascular disease.

The funds raised by the Heart Ball go toward local community outreach efforts to educate the public about heart disease, stroke and the effects of childhood obesity. Funds also go toward critical cardiovascular research. Research funded by the American Heart Association has led to important scientific breakthroughs that include: Artificial Valves, CPR, Clot-Busting Drugs, Pacemakers, Angioplasty, Bypass Surgery, Medicines to Control High Blood Pressure and Cholesterol. It has also led to important discoveries like the link between smoking and heart disease and to food labeling guidelines.