2015 DC Heart Ball #DCHeartBall

On February 28th, I attended the annual DC Heart Ball. After attending the 2014 ball, I was looking forward to this year's Paris-themed ball. Like the previous year, the event was held at the Mandarin Oriental hotel.

For 17 years, more than 500 of the region's most prominent medical, corporate, and community leaders gather at an elegant, black-tie event to celebrate the work of the American Heart Association and culminate American Heart Month.
This year's Heart Ball features remarks by Chelsea Clinton.

The theme for this year is joie de vivre - the joy of life. It goes hand in hand with the American Heart Association's new anthem, Life is Why.

After press check-in, I made my way into the ballroom before the cocktail reception started. It was then I met the Singh family whose story will be told by Emilie Singh, the mom of Gracie and Chloe in a few hours on the main stage. Each year a family's remarkable  story of survival helped by the AHA is featured during the annual event. This year it's the Singh family. I was fortunate to meet the delighted family who could not have been more sweet and gracious. If there was ever a family that was truly golden, it's them. 

After the cocktail reception meet and greets, the guests made their way into another section where the bulk of the evening took place.

Before the program, remarks and presentations began, the evening included a great live and silent auction which included vacation & food packages, popular restaurants,  autographed football memorabilia and plenty more!

Kay Kapoor, Heart Ball Chair, led the opening remarks. Soon followed by Chelsea Clinton who told the story about her dad, Bill Clinton surviving a massive heart attack thanks to the successful quadruple-bypass surgery. Chelsea explained that the remarkable  surgeons, physicians and nurses are  not only vital, but  how the work of AHA played a role.

Stated in the program that the essential essence of  the Heart Heroes program is a big thank you to the United States military physicians and nurses for their service on the battlefield and the home front, while highlighting the role of technology in advancing the cardiovascular care.

Mid-way during the program, Emilie Singh & her family went on stage and  talked about her family' s story and how  the work of AHA saved her daughter, Gracie. She spoke about the life-saving work the American Heart Association does by advocating for the teaching of CPR in schools, and after her speech the floor was open for donations.  

                                                                                          See below to read her letter:

                                                                               Also check out the video of the Singh family:

After the last remarks, guests then made their way back to the ballroom where the Heart After Dark, the ball's fun after party, kept the cheer going into wee hours.

The night raised $1.18 Million dollars. Funds raised by the Heart Ball go towards lifesaving cardiovascular research as well as community outreach and education programs.

Learn more about the American Heart Association by visiting their website, Heart.org.

Photography by Christine Shepherd.

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