Heart Ball raises $2.3 million
The American Heart Association’s annual Houston Heart Ball always feels like an extension of Valentine’s Day. Galagoers often reach for pink or red dresses and romantic accessories, and last Saturday’s soiree — held
Feb. 15 at Hilton Americas-Houston — was no exception.
Take Roslyn Bazzelle Mitchell, auction chairwoman for the second year in a row, who complemented her ruffled, ruby gown with heart-shaped diamond earrings courtesy of Tenenbaum Jewelers, the evening’s specialty sponsor. Her tablemates matched in jeweltone fuchsia and crimson looks. In support of Mitchell’s efforts, they dutifully monitored and bid on auction items, which included a Jared Lehr morganite necklace valued at $32,000 and Louisiana State University and Rockets game-day packages.
An original Ashley Longshore painting and two-night stay at the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleansfetched the highest bid at $23,500. Tickets to the Oscar de la Renta and Christian Siriano runway shows set for New York Fashion Week in September resulted in a fierce bidding war, though ultimately Cathy and Joe Cleary emerged victorious.
The Clearys’ hands also shot up when auctioneer Logan
Thomas led the evening’s round of giving; they contributed an additional $50,000 in honor of their friends and event chairmen Beverly and Jim Postl.
In total, the Postls raised an astounding $2.3 million toward AHA’s research and education programming. The Dallas-based organization’s ultimate goal is to prevent heart disease and stroke diagnoses.
To help reach seven figures, students from Theatre Under the Stars’ Humphreys School of Musical Theatre performed an original song, “One Life,” as an homage to the night’s Gift of Time theme. Later, spontaneous coronary artery dissection survivor and heart-transplant recipient Meghan Stapleton drove the mission’s significance home by sharing her story onstage.
Afterward, the program shifted back into holiday-party mode once the Young at Heart-themed late-night bash, chaired by Rachel Dash, a member of AHA’s young professionals group, got bumping. It wasn’t long before the dance floor swelled with shades of pink and red.