Heart ball celebrates mission, donors, volunteers and saved lives
Generous donors opened their hearts and their pocketbooks to raise a whopping $1,063,000 during the 2019 First Coast Heart Ball at the Sawgrass Marriott April 13. The record-setting amount was the most ever raised by the American Heart Association gala, said Lisa Craig, communications director. The glamourous event was chaired by Russ and Claudia Thomas, and honored Darnell Smith, the market president for Florida Blue of Northeast Florida. Speaking at the event were heart disease survivors Koralee Jacobs and Oscar Munoz. Florida Senator Aaron Bean served as moderator. Guests also had an opportunity to view images of a heart on an anatomage machine, courtesy of The Mayo Clinic.