2025 First Coast Heart Ball breaks attendance record
The 2025 First Coast Heart Ball had another record-breaking year at its March 8 gala with nearly 600 guests in attendance. Held at the Sawgrass Marriott in Ponte Vedra, with Life Is Why Sponsor Florida Blue, this annual fundraising gala raised $1.5 million to help further AHA’s mission.
This year also introduced “Four Chambers,” the ball’s new opening segment recounting stories of local volunteers
that embody AHA’s pillars of equitable health, knowledge, discovery and advocacy. These volunteers were:
- Equitable health chamber: Dr. Kelli Tice, Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Health Improvement Officer at Florida Blue and Guidewell
- Knowledge chamber: Dr. Charu Raheja, survivor and Founder/CEO of TriageLogic
- Discovery chamber: Dr. Ricardo Hanel, Director of Baptist Neurological Institute and the Endowed Chair of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Surgery at Baptist Health System
- Advocacy chamber: Christina Clohecy, Chief Financial & Operations Officer of Newfold Digital and First Coast American Heart Association Board President Anthony Hucker and Elizabeth Thompson served as co-chairs for this year’s event.
