Heart Ball supports foundation
Trending
VIENNA - Over 200 people, many dressed in red, gathered recently to raise money to help cardiac patients in the community.
The WVU Medicine Camden Clark Foundation hosted a fundraiser Saturday evening, a heart ball, at the Grand Pointe Conference and Reception Center in Vienna. The theme of the event was "Paint the Town Red."
WVU Medicine Camden Clark Foundation Executive Director Kim Couch said there has not been a heart ball since 2011, but they were able to host it this year because of the interest the community expressed.
"We couldn't have better community support and treatment," Couch said.
February is the perfect time to celebrate something like the heart ball because it is American Heart Month. WVU Medicine Camden Clark has an award-winning cardiac program and there are things that cardiac patients need when they get home from receiving treatment, Couch said.
These include scales for weight management because it is an important part of disease management, home blood pressure cuffs and help with transportation to doctor's appointments because it can be a huge issue, she said.
"We can jump in on all three of those," Couch said.
All the money raised at the heart ball goes to provide for patients' needs.
Tickets were $100 each or $1,500 for a table of 10, according to the Camden Clark Foundation website.
Couch said they picked "Paint the Town Red'' as the theme of the heart ball because they collaborated with the Parkersburg Art Center on the event.
According to Couch, there were three artists conducting live painting sessions where attendees could watch them make a piece of art.
Those artists were Fred Jesser, Beth Nash and Nicole Harris. The artists' creations were used as auction items at the ball. A portrait session with Nash was also auctioned off.
The event included both a silent and live auction. Some of the items in the live auction included tickets to a Pittsburgh Steelers game, diamond earring from Mel's Diamond House and a trip to Myrtle Beach. Some of the items in the silent auction included gift baskets, homemade desserts and a vintage mink coat, Couch said.
"We were surprised at how many wonderful things we got," she said.
Couch said there were casino games - craps, blackjack and roulette - for guests to enjoy. Guests playing the casino games also had a chance to be entered into a drawing for prizes.
Among those providing remarks was Dr. David Gnegy, cardiologist and president of Parkersburg Cardiology Associates. He said he attended the ball because he is "all about the cardiac program for our community."
Gnegy hoped the ball raised a lot of money for cardiac patients and that it made people aware of what the hospital can do in the community.
Harris, one of the artists who made and donated a painting for the auction, said she participated because she "wanted to do something for my community" and likes to share her fast-paced style of painting.
Approximately 275 people attended the event, according to Couch.
More information about the Camden Clark Foundation and how to donate is available online at https://wvumedicine.org/camden-clark-foundation/. More information about cardiac care available at WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center can be found at https://wvumedicine.org/camden-clark/services/cardiac-care/.
Michelle Dillon can be reached at mdillon@newsandsentinel.com