American Heart Association celebration recognizes importance of local supporters and volunteers
The 2024 Hampton Roads Heart Ball will be held Friday, May 17, 2024 at the Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront Resort. The annual gala is a culmination of the year-round American Heart Association Heart of Hampton Roads campaign, an initiative uniting community leaders to invest and make an impact in areas such as improving CPR education, controlling blood pressure and improving nutrition security. The Heart Ball marks a moment in time to reflect, honor and celebrate the progress made through the determination, dedication and passion of all who support the Heart of Hampton Roads.
The Heart of Hampton Roads co-chairs, Cathie Vick, Development & Public Affairs Officer, The Port of Virginia and Ashford Denman, System Vice President, Cardiovascular Service Lines, Sentara Health, have designated CPR education and awareness as a critical issue to address this year to measurably improve health for all people in this community. Recent data indicates that more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur each year in the United States and during cardiac arrest, immediate CPR can double or triple a person’s chance of survival.
This year’s event theme is the Bold Hearts Birthday Bash, which will be an evening filled with centennial celebrations as the American Heart Association turns 100-years old on June 10, 2024. Attendees can look forward to the live auction, live performances by BJ Griffin, dinner, dancing, a special appeal, and the announcement of the 2024 R. Bryan Grinnan Award recipient. This year’s nominees are:
- Dr. Frank J. Amico, Chesapeake Regional Healthcare
- Dr. Beverly Roberts-Atwater, Eastern Virginia Medical School
- Dr. Tetsuya Kawakita, Eastern Virginia Medical School
- Dr. Keith Newby, Bon Secours Hampton Roads
- Dr. Petra Lynch, Sentara Health and Dr. Gloria Too, Eastern Virginia Medical School representing the Sentara EVMS Cardio-Obstetrics Center
- Nathaniel Harris, Mr. Brian Tyler, Ms. Liliya Grefenshteyn and Mr. Andrew J. Mizell, The Port of Virginia
- Dr. John Trujillo, Riverside Health System
“We’re incredibly grateful to celebrate 35 years of the Hampton Roads Heart Ball during the centennial year of the American Heart Association. The centennial celebration marks our 100-year birthday throughout 2024. It’s a celebration of our history, while positioning us as a change agent for generations to come,” shared MeShall Simmons, Executive Director for the American Heart Association Hampton Roads. “We look forward to bringing the community and special guests together for a celebratory evening but one that will ultimately impact our future in the fight for health equity. Our future is about improving yours, and we thank our sponsors, supporters, volunteers and donors for standing alongside us.”
The Heart of Hampton Roads campaign and the Heart Ball support the Association’s 2024 Health Equity Impact Goal, which aims to reduce barriers to health care access and quality. The American Heart Association is the world’s leading nonprofit organization focuses on heart and brain health. For more information on how to support the American Heart Association or how to reserve your spot at the Hampton Roads Heart Ball, visit www.heart.org/heartofhamptonroads or contact Laura Bynum at [email protected]. Connect with the American Heart Association Hampton Roads on Instagram, Facebook, and X @AmericanHeartVA.
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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
For Media Inquiries:
Jaylyn Brown: 443-866-7733; [email protected]
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)