BWW Preview: American Heart Association's 20th Annual HEART OF THE HAMPTONS BALL

On Wednesday May 3rd, The American Heart Association's 20th Annual Heart of the Hamptons Ball began celebrations with a kick-off party in New York City.

Hosted by the Heart Ball's co-chairs Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin, Nicole Noonan, Randi Schatz and Tracy Stern, attendees included one of the Ball's honoree's Jean Shafiroff, Barbara Poliwoda from the American Heart Association, Frederick Anderson, Montgomery Frazier, Lucia Hwong Gordon and R. Couri Hay.

Midway through the event, Barbara Poliwoda thanked the co-chairs and the honorees and announced that they were hoping to raise $600,000 from this event and from the forthcoming gala on June 25th. Jean Shafiroff then told guests she was involved in the AHA because of her recently departed father, who "despite having a heart attack at 51 had survived until 94 in part due to good heart health." She encouraged everyone "to support the AHA continuing their good work."

Additional guests included: Paola Bacchini, Amy Brown, Suzette Charles, Dr. Charles Clauss, Shauna Duffin, Joycelyn Engle, Constantine George, Tomas Hill, Kathleen Giordano, Chiu-Ti Jansen, Roy Kean, Karen Klopp, Toula Livanos, Pamela Morgan, Julianne Michelle, Ben Mindich, Adele Nino, Henry De La Paz, Rosemary Ponzo, Anna Rhodes, Alisa Roever, Dr. Gary Ruth, Pamela Roth, Tyler Schaeffer, Renee and Richard Steinberg, Lori Snyder, Lana Smith, Jonathan Valdez, and Andrea Warshaw Wernick.

This Ball will take place at the Hayground School in Bridgehampton, NY on June 25th. Dr. Frank Spencer, MD, Professor of Surgery, NYU Langone Medical Center will be honored with the Distinguished Service Award and Jean Shafiroff, Humanitarian and Philanthropist will receive the Humanitarian with Heart Award.

The evening will feature live music by Alex Donner, cocktail hour, a seated dinner catered by The Garden City Hotel, as well as a live & silent auction. Tickets are $600. For more information contact Barbara Poliwoda at 631-734-2804 or visit http://hamptonsheartball.heart.org.

The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke - the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Heart of the Hamptons Ball