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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Nearly 100 guests attended a
special reception at the Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach
County History Museum to celebrate the illustrious history
of the American Heart Association and the individuals that
have contributed to the organization’s success in Palm
Beach. The storied Palm Beach Heart Ball holds a place in
the national spotlight as the oldest Heart Ball in the
nation, and the longest continuously held charity event in Palm Beach. This year marks the event’s 55th
Anniversary and to honor its legacy, the American Heart
Association has donated its collection of archival material
to the Historical Society of Palm Beach County. The contents
date back to 1956 and include original photography,
invitations, news clippings, letters and other illuminating
historical documents. The 60-year archival transfer is being
lauded as the first of its kind in the history of the
non-profit sector in Palm Beach County. The institutional and teaching
significance is a pacesetter for other non-profits looking
to preserve and retain their important history.
“The long
and prestigious history of the Palm Beach Heart Ball is
intertwined with the history of Palm Beach island,” said
John McDonagh, president and CEO of the Historical Society
of Palm Beach County.
“By acquiring the
American Heart Association’s collection we will be able to
preserve its story for future generations and provide the
community with a unique view of the evolution of this
philanthropic institution that has played such an integral
role in local history.”
Nancy Brown, CEO of the American
Heart Association presented awards to individuals who have
made a vital and significant contribution to the
organization’s success.
Kathryn C. Vecellio received the Exceptional
Philanthropy Award for her role as chairman of the 2008 Palm
Beach Heart Ball, where she helped raise a record-breaking
$2.38 million for the organization – the most successful
Heart Ball in the country that year.
Jane Volk, wife
of famed architect John
L. Volk was presented the Lifetime Palm Beach
Heart Ball Award; Trudy
Brekus,
Etonella Christlieb,
Arlette Gordon,
Alice Tarone
and Joyce Vaughn
received Grand Volunteer Awards; and
The
Esther B. O’Keeffe
Foundation received the Legacy Award. The
Foundation gave a $1 million gift to the American Heart
Association, which paved the way for the opening of their
new headquarters building in
West Palm Beach in 2003. There was
also a special presentation of the President’s Award to
Anne Eisenhower
in honor of her grandparents,
President Dwight D. and Mrs.
Mamie Eisenhower.
“I’m delighted to honor these exceptional individuals and
their contributions to the American Heart Association’s
mission of building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular
diseases and stroke,” said CEO Nancy Brown. “They are
shining examples of the spirit and generosity that help this
association make such a strong impact on so many lives.”
The Eisenhower’s have a starring role in the American Heart
Association’s story. The 34th President had a
significant heart attack in 1955 while in office, turning an
international spotlight onto the dangers of heart disease,
and prompting the First Family to support the nonprofit
organization and its research. President Eisenhower’s
personal physician was Dr. Paul Dudley White, one of six
prominent cardiologists who founded the American Heart
Association in 1924, and who is credited with saving the
president’s life. Inspired by the organization and its
mission, Mamie Eisenhower was the Honorary National Chairman
of the Palm Beach Heart Ball in 1958 and 1959.
To date, the Palm Beach
Heart Ball has raised
more than $18 million for the American
Heart Association, making it one of the top single
fundraising events nationwide.
It has established
itself as a driving force in advancing the
key initiatives
of the American Heart Association, including significantly
combating heart disease and stroke, the
No.1 and No. 3
killers of men and women in the
United States . Impressively,
the American Heart Association
reached a milestone in 2009 –
the organization raised more
than $3.2 billion in research
dollars to date, which has effectively changed the face of
medicine globally.
In addition to hundreds of other medical
institutions across the country, for the years 1998 to 2008,
the American Heart Association has supported the Cleveland
Clinic Foundation with $32 million in research dollars;
Johns Hopkins University with $44 million; Scripps with $16 million;
and the
University
of Miami
with $26 million to fund their scientists’ live-saving work.
Although research is the number one priority, AHA funds
local educational programs to prevent cardiovascular
diseases and stroke, including CPR, school programs and
educational programs for patients, caretakers and healthcare
professionals.
The 55th Annual
Palm Beach Heart Ball will be held at Mar-a-Lago on February
13, 2010. The chairmen are
Melania Trump and
Petra
Levin. The International Honorary Chairman
is Sir Elton John;
National Honorary Chairman
Donald J. Trump;
Honorary Chairmen Dame
Celia Lipton Farris;
Patrick Park and
Nathalie Fernandez De
LaValle; Legacy Chairman
Anne Eisenhower;
Luxury
Chairman Henri
Barguirdjian of GRAFF; and Fashion Ambassador
Michael Kors.
GRAFF and MICHAEL KORS are the Grand Benefactors of the 2010
event.
For more information, please contact Samantha Whiteman,
Gala Director,
American Heart Association,
at
(561) 697-6607
(561) 697-6607 .
The
History of the
Palm Beach Heart
Ball
The Palm Beach Heart Ball’s history began a half century ago
on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1956. The first ball was
held at The Patio, and Lucius Pond Ordway was its inaugural
chairman. Gypsy Rose Lee pulled the winning raffle ticket
for a ‘56 Ford Thunderbird, and Jacqueline Leslie was
crowned “Miss Heart.” Anna Thompson Dodge (widow of the
automotive magnate Horace E. Dodge) and Florence Pritchett
(wife of Palm Beach Mayor Earl E.T. Smith) served on the
special heart fund and ticket committees for the gala.
Tickets were $25, and the event raised a very impressive
$40,840 for the American Heart Association.
The popular tradition of pre-events dates back to the very
first ball. A party at the Palm Beach Polo Club on
Congress Ave.
in West Palm Beach
was a smashing success, with a guest list that included the
“who’s who” in television and film, including Lee Bowman,
Helen Hayes, screenwriter and author Anita Loos and
bandleader Sammy Kaye.
The 1957 Palm Beach Heart Ball was moved to the Poinciana
Room of the Palm Beach Towers hotel (converted to a condominium
in 1974). High-profile guests included Senator John F. and
Jackie Kennedy; Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. and his wife, Rose;
long-time Palm Beach resident and president of the New York
Yankees, Dan Topping who brought Joe DiMaggio; Rita Moreno;
Ann Miller; and Anita Ekberg.
In 1958, television star Ed Sullivan served as the master of
ceremonies for the Ball, and renowned artist Norman Rockwell
painted the commemorative poster. His grandson, John
Rockwell, is on the committee for the 2010 gala.
Palm Beach’s
beloved mid-century artist, Orville Bulman did two Heart
Ball program covers, one in 1964 and another in 1966.
Over the years, the Palm Beach Heart Ball developed into a
premier social event, known in Palm Beach and around the
country for its elegant style and sophistication. The town’s
leading families have been loyal supporters through the
decades, and guests and honorary chairmen have included,
Errol Flynn, Joan Crawford, Hugh O’Brian (Wyatt Earp), Perry
Como, Bob Hope, Dr. Christiaan Barnard, legendary boxer Jack
Dempsey, Peter Falk, Edith Ford, Senator Jack Kennedy; Curt
Gowdy, Mary Sanford, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Frank Sinatra, Bev
Smith, Esteé Lauder, Elizabeth Arden and Lilly Pulitzer.
Recent and past chairmen have included Dr. Elizabeth Bowden,
Rolla Campbell, Arlette B. Gordon, Kathryn C. Vecellio,
Sydell L. Miller, Patrick Park, Mary Fairbanks, Sharon
O’Neil, Pam Dupuis, Connie Niccolo and Mary Whitmore
Fischer.
About the
American Heart Association
Founded in 1924, the American
Heart Association is the nation’s oldest and largest
voluntary health organization dedicated to building
healthier lives, free of heart disease and stroke. These
diseases,
America’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers,
and all other cardiovascular diseases claim nearly 870,000
lives a year. In fiscal year 2007-2008, the association
invested nearly $560 million in research, professional and
public education, and advocacy and community service
programs to help all Americans live longer, healthier lives.
To learn more, call
1 800 AHA USA
or visit
www.americanheart.org
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