PALM BEACH, Fla. (January 7, 2010) — Thirty guests, including many elegant past chairs and the current committee of the Palm Beach Heart Ball, welcomed one of this year’s chairs, Melania Trump, at the traditional Chairmen’s Luncheon held at Mar-a-Lago on Jan. 2. The intimate, festive gathering honored both of the 2010 chairs, Melania Trump and Petra Levin, and paid tribute to the Ball’s illustrious heritage. Stacey Dowdle, vice president of the American Heart Association’s Greater Southeast Affiliate, surprised the guests with the announcement that the organization has already raised $1 million through the 55^th Annual Palm Beach Heart Ball, even before the gala invitations were in their envelopes.

Past chairmen in attendance ranged from Countess Rutilia Poli Sandri Burck who chaired in 1970, to Arlette Gordon who served the 2009 Heart Ball. Other guests included Trudy Brekus, Etonella Christlieb, Randie Dalia, Norma Fireman, Robin Fleming, Lynda Foster, Barbara Gilbert, Judy Grubman, Cynthia Kasper, BJ Kemp, Richard and Karen LeFrak, Kathlyn Maguire, Jessica Marulli, Ashley Mick, Sally Robinson, Lore Smith, Patsy Spero, and Joyce Vaughn.

The 2010 event will be held at The Mar-a-Lago Club on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010. The International Honorary Chairman for the 2010 event 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.

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. The event 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 leading cause of death in men and women in the United States.

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. As chairman of the 2008 Palm Beach Heart Ball, Kathryn C. Vecellio helped raise a record-breaking $2.38 million for the national association – the most successful Heart Ball in the national association’s history. Impressively, the American Heart Association reached another 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, over the last ten years, 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, the American Heart Association funds local educational programs to prevent cardiovascular diseases and stroke, including CPR, school programs and educational programs for patients, caretakers and healthcare professionals.

For more information, please contact Samantha Whiteman, Gala Director, American Heart Association, at (561) 697-6607.

About the American Heart Association