The Texas Heart Institute celebrated the beginning of its 7th decade with “The Supper Club” on Friday, September 22, 2023, at The Post Oak Hotel with musical entertainment provided by Pink Martini. The event was chaired by dedicated long-time supporters Kelli Kickerillo and Todd Forester, with Kelli’s parents, Mary and Vincent Kickerillo, serving as Honorary Chairs.

The ballroom was transformed into an iconic Supper Club from the 1940s, offering a blend of sophistication and fun. More than 400 guests had the opportunity to enjoy great entertainment, sip on pink martinis, connect with friends, and, most importantly, celebrate the successes achieved in the ongoing battle against cardiovascular disease.

Some of The Texas Heart Institute’s many contributions were highlighted in a short video which featured a 33-year-old mother who suffered a cardiac arrest at her office and remained unconscious in the ICU for eight days before her heart started beating on its own once more. She has since made a full recovery and was introduced at the event with her family.

“While her life-saving hospitalization was relatively brief, the technology that saved this young mother, much of which was created, refined, or tested at The Texas Heart Institute, took years to develop. Our investigators work countless hours on the high-risk, high reward research that will be the “next firsts”,” said Dr. Joseph Rogers, president & CEO of
The Texas Heart Institute.

The evening, which raised more than $800,000 to support the mission of The Texas Heart Institute, honored not only the remarkable contributions the Institute has made to the field of cardiovascular health, but also the generosity of the philanthropic community that supports it.