Dear Friends of Heart,
We are extremely honored to chair the 24th Annual Gainesville Heart Ball. We appreciate the opportunity to give back to our community and help the American Heart Association fulfill their mission “to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.”
Our local American Heart Association (AHA) is impacting the Gainesville community in ways many of us overlook each day. AHA is present on every athletic field that is equipped with a life-saving automated external defibrillator protecting our students. AHA is present in each restaurant where you are able to breathe clean, smoke-free air. AHA is present in every hospital where doctors are able to save countless lives with technology developed from research funded by the AHA. You can see the effect of your donor dollar everywhere. In 2009, over $1.5M were returned to the Gainesville community for research in cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
This year we are honoring Dr. Peter A. Indelicato, Head Team Physician for the University of Florida Gators and Division Chief for Sports Medicine at the University of Florida and Shands Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Institute. Please come hear how Dr. Indelicato survived a life threatening cardiovascular event and learn about his commitment to increase awareness of the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle in preventing heart disease and stroke.
We would like to thank the staff of the Alachua Division American Heart Association, Committee Chairpersons, and all volunteers of this year’s Heart Ball. Their collective leadership, talents, effort, tenacity, and perseverance will result in a 2010 Gainesville Heart Ball bigger and better than those that have come before it. You won’t want to miss it!
Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 20, 2010 and join us and all the “Champions with Heart” at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center for the 2010 Heart Ball. This is promised to be an unforgettable evening filled with exciting entertainment, auctions, and great food. Most of all, this is a time to gather your friends together and celebrate the wonderful strides we are taking to make our community a heart-healthy place to live.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Kay and David Ayers
Chairpersons, 2010 Gainesville Heart Ball