Abre tu Corazon

This Saturday, the American Heart Association will host the 23rd Annual Heart Ball. The theme: Abre tu Corazon - Open Your Heart. A total spanish theme, complete with flamenco dancers (yay!) and trips to Madrid for auction.



This year we hope to raise over $1 million dollars. (Which we normally do!) With over 1,000 guests, it is not hard to reach this goal.



The Heart Ball is presented by the Heart Guild of Birmingham. This group is led by an amazing group of women that have single handily turned this event into "the" event of the season. Anyone who is "anyone" will be at the Ball. It is very exclusive - invitation only.


Now 1,000 guests may sounds like a lot to some of my friends back home, but remember - Birmingham has almost 2 million residents in the metro area, so it is expected.




This year's ball will honor the President of the University of Alabama at Birmingham - Dr. Carol Garrison. By honoring Dr. Garrison, I believe we do a great job of recognizing the amazing efforts through education and research at the university hospital. One of the highlights of the program will be a special appeal where we ask for more donations for the Natalie Henry Fund. This fund was established in 2007 at the Heart Ball in memory of a young girl from Birmingham born with congenital heart defect who lost her life waiting for a heart transplant. Congenital heart defect continues to be #1 birth defect in the country. Phase 1 Goal (met!!) will provide families with high rish newborns an infant cpr anytime kit and training at the hospital before taking their baby home. Those kits are placed in hospitals throughout the city.

Phase 2 Goal (launching at the 2010 Heart Ball) will work to save and improve young lives through state-of-the-art cardiovascular care, education and research in a joint partnership between AHA and Children’s Hospital of Birmingham . The best news of all - all proceeds raised will remain in Birmingham!!

Another way we are raising money is through our amazing live and silent auction. I thought I would highlight some of the super cool items up for auction. These packages SCREAM fabulous!

GOURMET DINNER FOR 12 IN YOUR HOME
Savor the fine foods and wine of Spain right in your own home! Your kitchen will take center stage as gourmet chef Franklin Biggs prepares an exquisite Spanish dinner for 12 individuals. Wine for each course will be expertly provided by Vintage Wine Shoppe.
Compliments of Franklin Biggs of Homewood Gourmet and Vintage Wine Shoppe

GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES
Enjoy the thrill of NASCAR racing in the Spring at the Talladega Super Speedway with two Grand Stand Tickets. The lucky recipient of this package will also receive two PIT PASSES and two GARAGE PASSES to see NASCAR up close. The best part is that the winner of this package will also ride in the PACE CAR prior to the race beginning!! This is one opportunity that you cannot miss!!
Compliments of Talladega Super Speedway

FAME & FASHION IN NYC (September 2010)
Be where fame & fashion meet as you experience a trip of a lifetime to Fashion Week in New York City. It is the perfect trip for a couple, two friends, or a mother & daughter who love fashion!

Pamper yourself by spending 4 days/3 nights at the gorgeous Waldorf-Astoria hotel in the heart of the city. You will be the first to see the latest fashion trends as you attend Isaac Mizrahi’s runway show where he debuts his Spring line. Want more? Have a favorite designer? Great - because you will also be attending a designer runway show of your choice! After you’ve seen what is hot in fashion, take a trip over to Saks Fifth Avenue to update your wardrobe with your $1,000 gift card! Your purchases will be easy to carry in your stylish Issac Mizrahi tote bag. Make sure to save time for your NBC tour. Chris Hansen of Dateline NBC (as schedule permits) will take you behind the scenes of NBC for a personal, inside look of their studios in NYC. This is a truly “priceless” opportunity!
Compliments of Saks Fifth Avenue, Isaac Mizrahi, Mercedes Benz USA, and Chris Hansen. Hotel courtesy of Crown Automobile.

RAY SCOTT’S TROPHY BASS RETREAT
Ray Scott, founder of BASS Inc., has created the ultimate bass environment in Pintlala, Alabama. Four guests will fish in his personal bass waters in the wake of presidents, first ladies, and fishing superstars. Your all-inclusive 4-day/3-night stay in a beautiful 200-acre setting of live oaks, Spanish moss and tranquil lakes begins on a Monday and ends on a Thursday. It includes all meals, comfortable accommodations with private baths, secluded pool, and lodge area. Whether you are with your best friends, family, or business associates, your Ray Scott Trophy Bass Retreat will be the bass fishing experience of a lifetime.
Compliments of EMC

PERFECT GETAWAY TO THE FLORIDA KEYS
Enjoy the charm, beauty, and adventure of this tropical island resort in the lovely village of Islamorada, Florida. This adventure for 10 (5 villas) at The Islander Resort is the perfect weekend (3-day/2-night) getaway for 5 couples.

After your arrival, relax around the pool or soak up the sun on the gorgeous coral sand beach. The next day, experience “the sport fishing capital of the world” on 2 charter boats that will take you on a wonderful day of deep-sea fishing. Dinner that evening will be at “Ziggy & Mad Dog’s. The next day, you may want to explore the history and nature of the beautiful Keys before you head back home relaxed and rejuvenated. (To be enjoyed Summer 2010; no children please)
Compliments of Max and Denise Clark

SPRING SPORTS SPECTACULAR
Enjoy the best of Birmingham sporting events this spring with this elite package of tickets! Start off by attending the inaugural Indy Racing League event at Barber Motorsports on April 9-11, 2010. You and a guest will receive tickets to this exciting event as well as paddock passes to get up close and personal with the IRL. Next, get ready to golf, as you will also receive one coveted Pro-Am slot to play with a Champions Tour professional at the Regions Charity Classic on May 12, 2010. This includes access to clubhouse facilities, a Pro-Am gift bag, invitation to the Pairings Party, and 6 Cocina Superior Club Passes for the tournament. Nothing says spring more than baseball, so it is on to the SEC Baseball tournament where you and a guest will receive passes to this 3 day long event. Then watch the pros play, as you will also receive tickets for two for ten Birmingham Barons home games. It is a spring full of spectacular sports!!
Compliments of The Bruno Event Team and The Birmingham Barons

SOUTHERN COMFORT DOWN ON THE FARM
Host a party for 100 people at the Friedman Farm featuring delicious barbeque from Moe’s, beer from Budweiser and music provided my Southern Comfort Band. The Friedman Farm is located on several acres in Chelsea, AL. It has a swimming pool, tennis courts, riding trails and a lake stocked full of bass for fishing. Enjoy an outdoor fireplace and bar at this beautiful farm that is the perfect setting for a special celebration with friends and family or a fabulous corporate retreat for your business.
Compliments of Fred and Brenda Friedman, Moe’s Barbeque and Birmingham Budweiser and Southern Comfort Band

MAGNIFICENT MADRID
Spend five magical nights in the heart of Madrid, Spain enjoying the sights and sounds of this magnificent city.

You and your guest will enjoy round-trip airfare on Iberia Airlines to Madrid, Spain. Vouchers of $500 each will enable you to fly from Birmingham to an Iberian gateway to begin your fabulous adventure. Accommodations for five nights will be at the lovely NH Nacional hotel situated in the Art Triangle of Madrid near the Prado Museum, the Reina Sofia Art Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, and the Botanical gardens. You will enjoy a private city tour and dinner on the town as well as another excursion appropriate to the season. This will be a truly magical trip to a fabulous city! (Must be redeemed by March 6, 2011)

Compliments of Accenture, American Express, Boston Consulting Group

See?? How fabulous is all of this?

Tickets are still available - ($500 a couple)
Let me know if this is something you would be interested in, and I can arrange to get you on the list - well.. for the $250 a ticket. (while seats last!)

Of course I have to brag about my dear friend (and former dance instructor) - Irene Rimer's Flamenco Dancers:
Irene Rimer, Artistic Director
Victoria Langdon
Julia Quijano
Katherine Harper
Ilene Brill
Carmen Alcala
Singer Antonio de Sevilla
Guitarist Roberto Verdi

For more information - http://danceir.com

More details on the event:
Saturday, March 6
Cahaba Grand Conference Center
6-8pm Cocktails and Auction preview
8pm - midnight - Heart Ball
More information: http://www.heart.org/birminghamalheartball