The American Heart Association Gala
The Breakers
Palm Beach, FL
February 14, 2008

Chairman of the 53rd annual Palm Beach Heart Ball

 Dedicating more than 35 years of full-time service to her community and its many philanthropic events,
Mrs. Kathryn C. Vecellio has a name which rarely goes unrecognized. Neither does her passion to make a difference. This year, the American Heart Association is honored to name Mrs. Vecellio Chairman of the 53rd annual Palm Beach Heart Ball, an event which has earned itself a place in the national spotlight as the oldest Heart Ball in the nation and the longest continuous gala in the Town of Palm Beach.
Themed “Valentines at Versailles,” the Feb. 14 event, at The Breakers, will attract hundreds of prestigious guests from both near and far.

        The underlying cause of raising critical funds to help combat heart disease and stroke, the No. 1 and No. 3
 leading health threats of Americans, hits close to home for Mrs. Vecellio, who is a two-time open-heart surgery survivor. “I have personally witnessed the incredible technological advancements made possible by the outstanding efforts of the American Heart Association, its thousands of donors and volunteers across the country and the Cleveland Clinic,”
 said Mrs. Vecellio.

        Under Mrs. Vecellio’s leadership, plans and preparations for the upcoming Palm Beach Heart Ball are well-underway. Mrs. Vecellio, no doubt, can rely on her decades of fundraising experience as her backbone. Most recently, she co-chaired the South Florida Science Museum’s Diamond Constellation Ball for two consecutive years and achieved record-breaking success. She also served as the Honorary and Sustainer Chairman of the Junior League of the Palm Beaches’ Wachovia Women of the Year Luncheon, once again surpassing previous fundraising records. She serves as a Trustee for the Kravis Center, the Norton Museum of Art, the Schepens Eye Research Institute, Palm Beach Atlantic University, the South Florida Science Museum and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Western PA and WV.

        Her ongoing list of honors and awards speaks to the admiration and respect she has rightfully earned. Among those are the Heart and Stroke Champion Award from the American Heart Association, the Hearts of Gold Award from the Salvation Army and Women of Distinction Awards from the March of Dimes and Palm Beach Atlantic University.

        For the Feb. 14 event, Mrs. Vecellio will be joined by Grand Honorary Chairman Mr. Patrick M. Park and Honorary Chairman Mrs. Sydell L. Miller.

 Major sponsors are the Cleveland Clinic, Van Cleef & Arpels and Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence J. and Florence De George.

        For further information, call the American Heart Association at 561-615-3888