Midlands Heart Ball Raises $160,000 for the American Heart Association
February 26, 2015
COLUMBIA, SC – The 25th Anniversary Midlands Heart Ball, held Saturday, February 14 at the South Carolina State Museum, raised $160,000 to fund cardiovascular and stroke programs, research and education in the Midlands. The prestigious black-tie event hosted by Chairmen, Drs. Andrea Pezzella and Vince Vismara, welcomed over 300 community leaders, philanthropists and volunteers to celebrate the American Heart Association’s mission to build healthier lives free from cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
Chairmen Drs. Pezzella and Vismara were thrilled to lead the efforts of the 25th Anniversary campaign to a record breaking year. “The success of this year’s event was truly a collaborative effort” said Dr. Andrea Pezzella. “The generosity of the Midlands corporate community, donors and the dedication of the volunteers was overwhelming. We feel honored to have been a part of this historic event in the Midlands which will help further the lifesaving mission of the American Heart Association in our community”.
The evening celebrated the American Heart Association’s accomplishments and honored lives impacted or saved in the Midlands over the last 25 years. Special honorees at this year’s Heart Ball were Susan and Jason Smith. The Smith’s daughter, Emerson Rose, passed away at 2 and a half months old due to complications from a congenital heart defect. The Smiths partnered with the American Heart Association to help pass the Emerson Rose Act/Pulse Oximetry Bill into law, which requires all babies born in South Carolina to receive a pulse oximetry screening before leaving the hospital. Since the passing of the Pulse Ox Bill in 2013, more than 60,000 children in South Carolina have received this lifesaving screening.
For 25 years, the Midlands Heart Ball has attracted some of Columbia’s largest companies as well as some of the most established and leading individuals in the corporate, healthcare, and social sectors. Jaguar Land Rover Columbia served as the signature sponsor of the 25th Anniversary Heart Ball.
For more information or to sponsor the Midlands Heart Ball celebration please contact the American Heart Association at(803) 806-3091 or visit midlandsscheartball.heart.org
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association are devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based American Heart Association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. The American Stroke Association is a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 803-806-3091, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter at facebook.com/MidlandsAHA or twitter.com/americanheartsc.
