The American Heart Association celebrated its 11th annual Greater Washington Region Heart Ball on Saturday, drawing more than 450 guests (50 less than last year) to the Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner for an evening featuring a silent auction, live auction, dinner, and dancing. Despite economic challenges, the event raised more than $825,000 (topping last year's $813,000 total), supporting the association's research funding and educational programs.
Although budgets for many galas this season have been downsized in light of the economy, the organization has focused on minimizing costs every year, fueling maximum donations toward the organization’s mission of saving lives from heart disease and stroke, according to Heart Ball senior director Denise Daffron. “We’re always very frugal,” said Daffron, who recently joined the assocation, after directing special events for the American Red Cross of the National Capital Area. “We’re trying to cut costs and tightening our belts right and left.”
Daffron worked with florist Plants, Etc, Inc and audiovisual vendor Event EQ on creative ways to reduce decor costs. In place of floral arrangements, tabletops featured floating votives in glass cubes and dark red-rose petals strewn across the tablecloths. In the reception area, large posters described the stories of each of the young survivors of heart disease, heart defect, and stroke honored at the event as “Faces of Heart.”
The ball’s fund-raisers included a silent auction with more than 100 items and a nine-item live auction conducted by Red Apple Auctions. Every auction item was donated—from vacation packages to more creative options, like the chance to be featured as a character in a book by author John Gilstrap. In addition to the auctions, guests also purchased raffle tickets at $100 for a chance to win either a custom-designed Liancarlo gown valued at $6,900 or a seven-night stay in Copacabana, Brazil. Only 150 raffle tickets were available and each buyer received a heart-shaped pin decorated with blinking red lights.
Before dancing to music by the band Retrospect, guests dined on a menu including vegetable couscous, seared salmon, marinated beef, and a dessert of raspberry, mandarin, coconut, and mango sorbet served in a dark chocolate cup—all heart-healthy items. “We have to walk the talk,” Daffron said.