Annual Heart Ball set for Feb. 27

Photo

ROBERT K. YOSAY | THE VINDICATOR Among those involved in the upcoming 2016 Tri-County Heart Ball sponsored by the Tri-County American Heart Association are, seated, Vince Vurrie Jr., co-chairman, and standing from left, Dr. Suzanne Lutton, Cardiac Service Award recipient; Jill Bakondy Furrie, co-chairwoman; Dr. Amy E. Hutchinson, Cardiac Service Award recipient; Kathryn R. Shroder, co-chairwoman; and Jim Whetstone, Heart of the Community Award recipient.

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The American Heart Association will honor three local individuals Feb. 27 during its annual Heart Ball celebration at Stambaugh Auditorium.

Those being honored are the 2016 Heart of the Community Award recipient, Jim Whetstone, and the 2016 Cardiac Service Award recipients, Dr. Amy E. Hutchinson and Dr. Suzanne Lutton.

Co-chairman of the Heart Ball are Kathryn Shroder, Jill Bakondy Furrie and Vincent J. Furrie Jr.

The event also will feature the “Open Your Heart” special appeal for cardiac research and the introduction of this year’s local Heart Child, Preston Helmick, and his family.

Dinner will be followed by live entertainment by John Reese and Backbeat as well as silent and live auctions. The live auction will feature the Necklace of Hope diamond and topaz necklace courtesy of Thom Duma Fine Jewelers.

Mercy Health (formerly Humility of Mary Health Partners) is the Signature sponsor of the event, and the Research Reception sponsor is The Regina M. Rebhan Family Foundation.

Other sponsors include ValleyCare Health System of Ohio, open your heart sponsor; StarTrac/Stairmaster, premier sponsor; Village Sparkle Group Inc., platinum sponsor; All Points Medicine & Rehabilitation, DeBartolo Corp./Denise and John York, Farmers National Bank/Farmers Trust Co., Greenwood Chevrolet, Home Savings Charitable Foundation, Scott and Bethann Zoldan-Morgan Stanley, MS Consultants Inc., The Kidney Group, Southwoods Health, Thompson Private Client Services, Tony Genuardi, Toyota of Warren and VEC Inc., gold patrons; WFMJ/WBCB and WYSU, local media sponsors.

For sponsorship opportunities, event information and details regarding reservations for the ball, contact Charlotte Diss, executive metro director of the Tri-County American Heart Association, at charlotte.diss@heart.org, or 330-318-1003.