Saving more than 17,000 lives over the last 39 years is no small feat—and one worth celebrating! That’s why we’re bringing our ForHearts community together for an evening of recognition and giving at our second annual “A Night ForHearts” on Saturday, April 22, at The Westin Tampa Bay.
At our inaugural gala event in 2022, we recognized the service of our Immediate Past Chairman Dr. Benedict S. Maniscalco. We also formally introduced our new Chairman, Dr. Thomas C. Crawford, and announced the vision of our expanded mission as ForHearts Worldwide.
This year’s gala will continue the acknowledgement of our supporters and celebration of lives saved, while also serving as a fundraising event with a silent auction, live bidding, and sponsorship opportunities. We want “A Night ForHearts” to be a night that saves lives!
“This year’s event is about who we are, what we do, and allowing us to make our mission possible with the support of those in attendance and those who become sponsors and donate,” says Laura DeLise, Executive Director of ForHearts. “This year’s event is about fundraising and saving more lives.”
The evening will start with a cocktail hour outside, taking in The Westin’s beautiful waterfront views. The guests will move into the ballroom for a plated dinner and our program highlighting the ForHearts mission, patient stories, and the donors and supporters that make it all possible. In recognition of donors who have contributed $1,000 or more, we’ll be presenting the Henry D. McIntosh Medallion, named in honor of our founder. We’ll also be presenting the Chairman’s Award to former Board Member Jes Landau, with ForHearts Chairman Dr. Thomas Crawford serving as keynote speaker. We will also have Christine Bocus from Trinidad & Tobago presenting her story and how ForHearts saved her life.
Then, there will be the opportunity to give to hearts in need during both our live auction and silent auction taking place throughout the evening. Attendees can bid on experiences like a weekend stay at The Westin Tampa Bay, box suite tickets to a Tampa Bay Rays game, and a professional full-service headshot session from J Rae Photography. And it’s all set to a soundtrack of live entertainment!
Giving with a Global Reach
For our longtime supporters and first-time donors, “A Night ForHearts” will provide the opportunity to “see firsthand the impact of our mission and how what we do affects the lives of our patients and the people around them,” says DeLise. “They’re fighting for their life, and our mission is to help them win that fight.”
That impact stretches from a hotel ballroom in Tampa to supporting patients in our six International Heart Centers across the world.
As the international prominence of Tampa continues to grow as one of “the world’s greatest places,” a gala event like “A Night ForHearts” not only showcases “who we are and what we do,” but also “why it’s important that an international nonprofit is in the Tampa Bay area,” says DeLise. “This is a global issue, so we’re trying to make a positive impact on a global level.”
Are you ready to make a global impact by saving lives? Join us for an unforgettable evening of celebration and giving at “A Night ForHearts.”
Gala tickets are $175 per person and $1,500 per table, with special recognition for table sponsorship. Corporate sponsorship packages are also available.
We can’t wait to celebrate “A Night ForHearts” with you on Saturday, April 22, at The Westin Tampa Bay.
Click here to learn more about this gala event and purchase your tickets!