Service Organizations
Give a Gift of Life, Share Your Love - Preserve a Heart
By Ingrid Sears
Feb 1, 2010 - 2:16:38 PM

SLIDE SHOW: Photos highlighting last year's event.

Nassau, Bahamas - It’s hot. It’s couture. It’s elegant! It’s sophistication at its best. It’s an evening filled with love, laughter, excitement, dancing and a soul-full good time. It may feel like Christmas, but it’s not. Yet it is an opportunity to place a smile on a child’s face. It’s a grand opportunity to celebrate life and love, whiling helping to preserve a heart. It’s The Annual Heart Ball.  Your attendance will help to repair the heart of a child, and help to give a gift of life.

Under the theme, “Give a gift of life – preserve a heart”, The Sir Victor Sassoon (Bahamas) Heart Foundation will host its 46^th Annual Heart Ball at Sheraton Nassau, on Saturday February 13, 2010. There will be live, toe-tapping, body rocking, soul performances by The Ed Brice Orchestra, The S-G Band (Soulful Groovers) and The Royal Bahamas Defense Force Dance Band.

If that’s not enough, one of the highlights of The Ball is the naming of The Lady Sassoon Golden Heart Awardee, who would have been selected from of pool of worthy persons nominated for their humanitarian and heart touching acts to improve the lives of others. 

Additionally guests can win fabulous prizes and surprises as table prizes, raffle prizes or auction items. Some of the prizes up for grabs are: a roundtrip ticket for two on British Airways to London, a Baum Mercier Men’s watch from Diamond’s International, a roundtrip ticket for two on Bahamasair along with a four-night stay at Barefoot Homes Bahamas, Greenturtle Cay, Abaco, a collectable bottle “Muranno” by Carlo Moretti, a blown glass heart necklace & earring set– Coin of the Realm, and a Heart shaped gift from the David Yurman Collection. Additionally, there will be paintings and prints from the likes of the late Chan Pratt , Clifford Fernander, John Paul, John Cox, Nettica Symonette, and many more artists.

In the midst of all the glitz, glamour and fun, we must remember and recognize the cause for The Annual Heart Ball. The Annual Heart Ball is the major fund raiser for The Heart Ball Committee, the fundraising arm of The Sir Victor Sassoon (Bahamas) Heart Foundation. The Foundation’s main goal is to assist persons, primarily children, to repair their hearts.  Additionally, The Foundation in conjunction with The Bahamas Heart Association aims to proactively educate and inform persons residing in The Bahamas about heart care and how to lead heart healthy lifestyles.

The Heart Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 1961 by Lady Evelyn Sassoon to assist persons in need, with heart care. The Foundation runs primarily on a voluntary and contributory basis. Over 97 % of the funds received go directly to heart care and the remaining 3 % (or less) to unavoidable administrative costs. The Heart Foundation gives support and understanding to parents and families for heart care, whether in hospitals in The Bahamas or in Florida. One of the secondary goals of The Heart Foundation is to not turn anyone away. Since its inception, The Heart Foundation has helped over 4,000 patients to obtain heart care. Despite The Heart Foundation’s best efforts and the increase in number of local cardiologist and equipment, there is still a need to raise funds to assist children of The Bahamas receive heart care locally and at hospitals abroad.

 Being a non-profit organization, The Heart Foundation relies heavily on the generosity of others to meet their goals and encourage persons in The Bahamas to lend their support. Each year, The Heart Ball Committee hosts two major fundraising events: The Heart Ball and The Annual Tea Party & Fashion Show. In addition, The Heart Foundation accepts gifts, memorial donations and tax-deductible donations. Schools and civic organization are welcome to lend their support. No amount is ever too small. Just like heart disease, these events and activities do not discriminate based on age, gender, race, ethnicity or other. All are welcome to participate. 

Tickets for regular seating is $250 per person. For information on ticket purchases or donations please contact The Heart Foundation at telephone number 327-0806.