Sarah Jaimes. Courtesy photo.
SANTA BARBARA — The 19th annual Santa Barbara Heart Ball, a fundraiser supporting the American Heart Association, is set for Saturday, April 28, 2018. The Ball will kick off at 5:30 p.m. with a social hour and silent auction (items and packages to be announced). The program will begin at 7:00 p.m., followed by dinner and dancing. The highly anticipated soiree, held this year at the Fess Parker Santa Barbara – A Doubletree Resort By Hilton, is hosted annually to fund critical research the helps fight cardiovascular disease and stroke. The theme of this year’s Heart Ball is Hearts By The Shore, and is chaired by Sarah Jaimes, a Corporate Account Manager with LogMeIn.
This year the American Heart Association celebrates Gracie Doran as the Passion Speaker. Gracie suffered a stroke at age 10 that left her paralyzed and unable to talk, walk or eat. She underwent brain surgery and was in a coma for three days. Fourteen surgeries later, the Laguna Niguel resident teaches dance class for special needs kids. Though part of the right side of her body and the left side of her face remain paralyzed, she speaks out against bullying and helps others with disabilities.
Additionally, Renee Grubb, co-founder of Village Properties and current Chair for the American Heart Association of Santa Barbara, will be honored at the Heart Ball for her extensive work in the community. Grubb served as President of the Santa Barbara Association of Realtors in 1995, chaired the Santa Barbara Region Chamber of Commerce in 2008, served on the Board of Directors for the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History for 6 years and currently serves on the Master Plan committee, and was recently nominated to the Goleta Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for 2018. Her other philanthropic commitments include the Teacher’s Fund, which she co-founded in 2002; and Santa Barbara Business & Technology Awards Dinner.
And the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation are again sponsoring an art contest for students, ages 5 to 12 years old, attending local schools. The contest asks the children to draw a poster illustrating the answer to, “How do you keep your heart healthy?” Every child who participates in the art contest will receive a “Heart Health at Home” kit which teaches them about nutrition, exercise, and making healthy lifestyle choices. Finalists in the art contest will be invited to attend and receive recognition at the Santa Barbara Heart Ball on April 28.
The Heart Ball is one of the premier American Heart Association fundraising events both locally and across the nation. The evening celebrates the lives saved and improved because of everyone’s countless efforts. Since 1915 the American Heart Association has reached millions and stood by our mission of “Building Healthier Lives, free of cardiovascular disease and stroke.” Heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 3 killers in Santa Barbara County. The American Heart Association’s goal is to help those in need through research, education, patient care, and by advocating better health in our population.
In addition to the Heart Ball, the American Heart Association hosts the Heart & Stroke Walk, Go Red For Women Luncheon, and other opportunities to speak up in an effort to educate individuals and save lives.
Local sponsors for the 2018 Santa Barbara Heart Ball include the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, BMW | Santa Barbara Auto Group, Impulse Advanced Communications, Lash Construction and Sansum Clinic. Ticket are $275 per individual or $2,500 for a table of 10. For more information, visit SBHeartBall.heart.org, or contact Angela Miller-Bevan at (805) 979-5286 or Angela.Miller-Bevan@heart.org.
About the American Heart Association: The American Heart Association is 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 association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
About the American Stroke Association: The American Stroke Association is devoted to saving people from stroke — the No. 2 cause of death in the world and a leading cause of serious disability. 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 stroke. The Dallas-based association officially launched in 1998 as a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-888-4STROKE or visit StrokeAssociation.org. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association receives funding mostly from individuals. Foundations and corporations donate as well, and fund specific programs and events. Strict policies are enforced to prevent these relationships from influencing the Association’s science content. Financial information for the American Heart Association, including a list of contributions from pharmaceutical companies and device manufacturers, is available at http://www.heart.org/corporatefunding.