My wife Julie and I are chairing the 2017 Tampa Bay Heart Ball. Although my family has a long history of heart disease, the role took on a deeper meaning by chance when three people entered our lives earlier this year. Their names are Laurie Pierce, Amanda Pierce and Garrett Leopold.
Laurie Pierce learned of our involvement with the ball and mentioned that she would like to have the opportunity to dance with Garrett Leopold at the event. During the ball, we will tell the stories of Laurie’s daughter Amanda and Garrett. Garrett’s journey began at birth when he was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. He received his first heart transplant at just 6 months of age. In 2013, complications arose and he began to go into heart failure. He was at Shands Hospital in Gainesville for six months needing a heart transplant in order to be able to live. At the same time, Amanda Pierce, a Plant High School senior, was driving to Tallahassee to visit her sister at Florida State University. She swerved to avoid traffic backed up because of two previous accidents on the interstate, and her car struck a tree. Amanda died the next day. Tests were performed and Amanda’s heart was a match for Garrett. Laurie’s beautiful daughter’s final gift gave life to Garrett.
Laurie simply told us that she wanted to dance with the young man who has her daughter’s heart. She said, “While I won’t get to hold Amanda on this side of heaven, I am grateful for the gift that she has given Garrett.” While Laurie and Garett dance, she will share the dance with her daughter’s heart and feel it beat through the young man who she has grown to love. To our knowledge, this will be a first in American Heart Association history to have a donor’s family and the recipient dance together at a ball. We would love for you to join us to witness this beautiful event.
Amanda and Garrett’s story was highly emotional for both Julie and I. It has given us even more purpose around our role with the ball and ignited a passion in us to ensure that there are more opportunities like this in our lifetimes. While I have chaired many organizations over the past 7 years in Tampa Bay, I have refrained from fundraising activities of an “ask” for support of any cause. However, I am now coming to ask for your support.
As chairpersons of the ball, we set our goal at raising $2 million. There has been $1.4 million donated to date. On behalf of the American Heart Association, we would like to personally ask for your help in closing the gap. We have set up a website for personal and corporate donations. If your company would like to participate in a meaningful way with either a donation or sponsorship, I have attached Heart Ball Director, Kristen Benoit’s contact information.
Please also save the date for the 2017 Heart Ball on Saturday, April 29th. We look forward to celebrating Garrett’s life and honoring Amanda’s memory during this time. We hope that you will be a part of this meaningful celebration while support the American Heart Association’s mission to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Kristen.Benoit@heart.org
1-352-279-0959
