Pittsburgh Heart Ball: Pop HeART
Where: Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh hotel, Downtown.
What: Eight hundred hearts might have skipped a beat Saturday night as Heart Ball guests walked into an exuberant ballroom decked out in heart-themed pop art, celebrating Andy Warhol and the importance of community. New this year was a young professionals cocktail reception with 150 new guests led by host Celina Pompeani. Her dad, Bob Pompeani, emceed the main event with more than 650 in attendance. “Heart health and heart awareness is important at any age, and we are working to cultivate new leadership here in Pittsburgh,” said Shayna Blinn, senior Heart Ball director. “What better way than to celebrate together?”
People found their way to this organization through many paths. “I lost three people close to me, including my sister only two weeks ago, to issues of the heart,” said event co-chair Steven Guy. “We have to do better. The advocacy is as important as the research. It is my mission to teach people healthy living skills and how to deal better with stress. We need to be more educated and learn the warning signs. This is important work that can save lives.” Board chair Bruce Benda said he was saved from death four years ago by a bystander who performed CPR on him for 20 minutes until paramedics arrived.
“When I share my story, not only is it therapeutic for me, but then others open up and share their own experiences. We are only going to change things by being open and willing to speak up. I am lucky to be here and it changed everything for me. It was only natural that I become a part of this organization.”
#SEEN: Board president Dr. Don Fischer, Lisa Pompeani with daughter Chelsea, Claudy Pierre, Andrea Robinson, Naomi Ritter, John Bettis, Dr. Ramzi Khalil and Abir Matar, Blayre HolmesDavis and state Rep. Austin Davis, Ali Good and Brian Linville, Megan McCurdy, Alex Matthews, Darla Jobkar, Joni Sacco, Tammy Bey, Barata Bey, Kimberly Leonard and Connie Colbert.