The 2010 Heart Ball
The Heart Of It All

February 13, 2010

February 13th was the first of four great events I will conduct for the American Heart Association this year (Akron, Canton, Youngstown and Cleveland). And what better way to start than by heading to Akron for the 2010 Heart Ball "The Heart Of It All".

With nearly 400 in attendance, party goers arrived at Quaker Station to celebrate not only the American Heart Association, but the work and dedication of this year's honorees. The wonderfully large ballroom once again welcomed family and friends, co-workers and associates with delicious hors d'oeuvres, refreshments and of course an incredible array of silent auction items.

Beautifully arranged and displayed, there was something for everyone. And what Heart Ball would be complete without the Big Board? With 12 additional items up for bid, party goers had a chance to bid on even more exciting items and have their bids displayed so they could be seen from afar. The AHA once again did an beautiful job putting the silent auction together.

When the dinner program began, everyone was welcomed by Mistress of Ceremonies, Betsy Kling, of WKYC TV-3. She was absolutely wonderful with the crowd, and kept everyone smiling and the evening flowing. She's wonderful to work with and a favorite of many organizations throughout Northeast Ohio.

After a heartfelt invocation and sponsor recognition it was time to enjoy a delicious dinner before the start of the live auction. And what a great live auction it was! Bidding was spirited on all the items and the energy level went even higher as two couples went neck to neck on a Cavs package that consisted of 8 floor seats. And just like a last second, game winning shot by LeBron, the roar of the crowd was unbelievable when the it was sold, sold, sold! But that's not all!

When it came time for the "Open Your Hearts" portion of the live auction, the energy level went even higher yet, as people opened their hearts and wallets. With heartfelt support, contributions totaled $28,800! Just absolutely wonderful and so appreciated by all the staff and volunteers who worked so hard to make this event a success. These contributions will help in the continuation of pediatric research and educational programs.

Following a short intermission to close the silent auction and Big Board, the Heart Ball continued with the introductions and awards of the 2010 honorees. A real celebration of each individual's hard work and dedication - not only to their profession but to the mission of The American Heart Association.

Congratulations to all the honorees for their special recognition, to all who attended this year's event for their unwavering support, to all the volunteers for their support and service, and to the American Heart Association for another successful Heart Ball. Awesome! 

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