Lebanon Heart Ball to return in-person May 21
The American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, will be welcoming its supporters back in-person to the Lebanon Heart Ball on Saturday, May 21 at 5 p.m. at the Lebanon Country Club. It is the first time the event has been held in person since April 2019.
Jasmine Brooks of CBS21 News will host the evening’s festivities. The event’s theme, Racing to Health, encourages participants to dress up in their finest derby attire to watch The Preakness Stakes and enjoy an evening that includes dinner, dancing, a silent and live auction and recognition of three local community health leaders with the first ever Live Fierce awards. The event will also feature the stories of two local heart attack survivors, Greer Anderson and Dave Southall.
The event will be chaired by Rachel Kohr, manager of cardiology services at WellSpan Health Good Samaritan Hospital. In her role she is responsible for the oversite of invasive and non-invasive cardiology services for Lebanon County, leading a group of cardiology professionals and working collaboratively with the WellSpan cardiologists to provide heart care to the Lebanon community.
A Lebanon County resident with a strong tie to her community, Rachel participates in multiple non-profit organizations and leadership development programs. She is passionate about promoting heart health, food security and tobacco and vaping cessation both professionally and personally. As a 16th birthday gift, Rachel’s father gave her his last pack of cigarettes to crush in his commitment to tobacco cessation. More than 20 years of being smoke-free has given her father the gift of an extended life expectancy and many more years to make family memories.
“I’m honored to chair the Lebanon Heart Ball this year because from an early age the American Heart Association has impacted the way I view heart health,” said Kohr. “From tobacco education in elementary school to CPR classes as a healthcare professional, their mission has touched my life personally and professionally. By supporting the American Heart Association, I am supporting a healthier Lebanon community.”
As Heart Ball chair, Kohr leads a 5-person executive leadership team that includes:
- Greer Anderson, Long Brightbill Attorneys at Law
- Nikki Maurer Gray, Community Health Council of Lebanon County
- Ginny Follet, WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital
- Malisa Fritz, MSN, RN, Lebanon VA Medical Center
- Allision Leitzel-Williams, Leitzel’s Jewelry
The dollars raised by the Lebanon Heart Ball fund the mission of the American Heart Association to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives while working toward the Association’s 2024 Health Equity Impact Goal, reducing barriers to health care access and quality.
“The American Heart Association does an amazing job of understanding the needs of our community and working to provide resources and education to the populations that need that support the most,” said Kohr. “This year, the association is focusing on food security and tobacco and vaping cessation. Both of these issues impact our youth and vulnerable populations in Lebanon County.”
This year’s Lebanon Heart Ball is sponsored by WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital, UPMC and UPMC Health plan, Candoris, APR Supply Co., Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster, G.F. Bowman, Fulton Bank, Penn State Health, Northwest Bank, Leitzel’s Jewelry, Kountry Kraft and other generous contributors.
To learn more about the Lebanon Heart Ball, visit lebanonheartball.heart.org or contact Disha Modi at [email protected] or 717-730-1744 for more information.