It is time to dust off that fedora and break out your pearls! A Night ForHearts Gatsby Gala is roaring back to the ‘20s for an evening of sophistication and elegant opulence, all to support the lifesaving mission of ForHearts Worldwide. The 2025 edition of our signature fundraising event will take place Saturday, April 5, at The Vault in downtown Tampa.
After the success of the 2024 Gatsby Gala—complete with period cocktails, casino games, and Charleston dancing—this year’s theme takes the Roaring ‘20s out of the speakeasy to the decadence of 1920s Hollywood when heartthrob Rudolf Valentino and “It Girl” Clara Bow illuminated the silent silver screen. Consider that inspiration to elevate your 1920s gangster or flapper look with a touch of Hollywood glam!
Of course, you do not “necessarily have to go out and purchase a themed outfit—a black dress and dark suit can easily accommodate this theme,” reminds Laura DeLise, ForHearts Worldwide Executive Director. “We want this to be a fun, interactive event where people of all ages can enjoy the party.”
With that in mind, many of last year’s favorites will return, including signature drinks, jazz-age entertainment, fundraising games and auction items, guest speakers, and our generous presenting sponsor, The Michael T Berger Charitable Fund. Plus, exciting new features—details coming soon!
In elevating our Gala style with Hollywood glam, the evening will be hosted by a special guest MC who epitomizes both elegance and heart, Jana Bonassi, Mrs. Florida American 2024. As a survivor of cardiac arrest, Jana is living with a pacemaker and defibrillator and serves as the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation Ambassador, advocating for CPR and AED awareness. Jana will share her powerful survival story and how the ForHearts Worldwide mission of providing implantable cardiovascular devices to people in need around the world resonates with her on a very personal level.
“Fully aware of the fragility of life, I have been touched to show every person I meet that their life matters, that they are loved, needed, wanted, and can make a positive impact in the world,” Jana states in her Mrs. Florida American profile.
How A Night ForHearts Makes an Impact
Making a positive impact is what the annual A Night ForHearts Gala is all about. While this night brings our ForHearts Worldwide community of supporters, donors, and advocates together in celebration, it is ultimately about spotlighting the accomplishments of ForHearts Worldwide (lives saved!) and continuing this life-saving work by giving Gala attendees in Tampa the opportunity to fund a cause that touches countless lives around the world.
A Night ForHearts Gala is one of our biggest annual fundraisers, and the 2024 Gala raised over $40,000—funds that directly benefit patients by financing pacemakers for hearts in need around the world. Patients like Christine Sookram, who shared her story as a guest speaker at our A Night ForHearts Gala in 2023.
Christine longed to run and play with the other kids in her Trinidad town, but a heart condition held her back. Finally diagnosed with a third-degree heart blockage at age 14, Christine needed a pacemaker to help regulate her heartbeat, but it was a procedure her family could not afford. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of hospital social workers, the Trinidad Rotary Club, and ForHearts Worldwide, Christine received her pacemaker. She’s now in her late 20s, married, loves 30-day fitness challenges, and on her third pacemaker!
That is the real-world impact of your support and the real patients you will hear about (an even meet) at A Night ForHearts. Join us for an unforgettable evening of elegance, celebration, and giving at A Night ForHearts Gatsby Gala on Saturday, April 5, at The Vault. Gala tickets are $200 per person, with sponsorship packages starting at $1,000.
Click here to learn more about this Gala event and purchase your tickets!