Valerie Hillow Gates, Nick Liberatore and Kelly Hancock

More than 400 people turned out in support of the American Heart Association for the 28th annual Heart and Stroke Ball, with this year’s campaign raising $400,000 for the nonprofit organization.
With a theme “Moments that Matter,” the benefit was presented at the Cleveland Hilton Downtown. Guests, some donning black tie and cocktail attire, enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, while perusing a vast array of silent auction items before entering the ballroom for dinner, a live auction, entertainment and the Open Your Heart Appeal.
Fox 8’s morning show host Kristi Capel served as the event’s emcee,

Jim Farley and Laura Charles

with the Heart and Stroke Ball also featuring recorded performances by Grammy-nominated hip hop duo Black Violin as well as music by David Casper and his band ‘Cruisin’.
Moving stories of survivor Heather VacLav were presented, with the focus of the 2022 campaign being the lifesaving skill of CPR.
Ball chair was Jim Farley, with main sponsors including the JP Farley Corp., Kinetico, University Hospitals, Oswald, Delta Dental and HKM, among other generous donors.
Thanks to the generosity and vision of Mr. Farley and Michelle Bounce, of JP Farley Corp, the AHA was able to place 630 infant CPR kits in NICU units at local hospitals.
“We are proud to provide a gift to the American Heart Association and stand alongside their

Kristi Capel and Molly Palmer

mission through the Centennial year,” Mr. Farley said. “We hope this gift will help every baby born in our region to celebrate a first birthday.”
Other highlights included an expansive live auction, with an auction committee led by Theresa Polachek, of Swagelok.
The American Heart Association is actively funding $17.5 million across 31 research projects here in Cleveland. STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY SUE REID