American Heart Association Raises nearly $80,000!

Source: American Heart Association

The 17th annual Santa Barbara Heart Ball – a fundraiser supporting the American Heart Association – took place on Saturday, May 13, 2017. The much anticipated soiree, held this year at the Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club, 1281 Channel Drive in Santa Barbara is hosted annually to fund critical research that helps fight cardiovascular disease and strokes. This year’s Santa Barbara Heart Ball was chaired by Denise Sanford.  The Santa Barbara Heart Ball raised nearly $80,000 to fight cardiovascular disease and stroke.

This year, we were moved by our incredible passion speaker Tristen and his mother Lindy. Tristen is the American Heart Association’s very own, 10-year old super hero, who is defying the odds while living with only half of his heart. Tristen’s story is one of hope and encouragement. After having three open-heart surgeries, he lives everyday like any other kid his age. Tristen’s story, helped bring attention to the #1 killer of infants and children – congenital heart defects and the efforts being made in Santa Barbara County to make an impact in the lives of these children. 

In addition, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation sponsored an art contest for students, ages 5 to 12 years old, attending local schools. The contest asked the children to draw a poster illustrating the answer to, “How Do You Keep Your Heart Healthy?” Every child who participated in the art contest received a “Heart Health at Home” kit which teaches them about nutrition, exercise and making healthy lifestyle choices. Renee Grubb, Board Chair for the Santa Barbara American Heart Association and Virginia Ortega from the Chumash Indians Foundation presented certificates to the art contest runner up Lilianna from Peabody Charter School and to winners of this year’s contest Ashley and Valentine from Washington School.

The Heart Ball is one of the premier American Heart Association fundraising events both locally and across the nation. The evening celebrates the lives saved and improved because of everyone’s countless efforts. Since 1915 the American Heart Association has reached millions and stood by our mission of “Building Healthier Lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.”  Heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 5 killers in our nation.  The American Heart Association’s goal is to help those in need through research education, patient care, and by advocating better health in our population. 

Special thank you to Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, BMW Santa Barbara, Impulse Advanced Communications, Casa Dorinda, Sansum Clinic, First Republic Bank, SB Creative Content, Bella Vista Designs, Kita, Chicago Title, Chocolate Maya and The Biltmore/Coral Casino Beach & Cabana Club for sponsoring the 2017 Santa Barbara Heart Ball.

For more information, contact Angela Miller-Bevan at (805) 979-5293 or angela.miller-bevan@heart.org. For media inquiries please contact Tamara White at (310) 490-0650 or tamara.white@heart.org.