Donors Celebrate to their Hearts' Content at Unbeatable Ball

Daniel Ortiz and Wilson Parish

Jorge and April Salazar

SUPPORTERS OF THE American Heart Association gathered at the Post Oak Hotel for an evening of dinner and dancing ahead of the organization's 100th anniversary.

Taking place on Valentine's Day weekend, naturally, the event was themed "Every Beat, Everywhere," and included fun plays on the word "beat" like hip-hop violinist Demola, who accompanied cocktail hour. After a gourmet dinner — Chilean sea bass, herb-roasted tenderloin — guests took to the dance floor and boogied to the beats of Manhattan Band. Throughout the night, emcee Khambrell Marshall introduced speakers such as Olivier Le Peuch and Doug Lawson, as well as an emotional video testimony featuring an 11-year-old heart disease survivor.

An exciting live auction touting items such as a Hawaiian vacation and a getaway to Puerto Vallarta helped the total till top $1.2 million. Can't beat that!