2024 Heart Ball

Gorgeous Fort Worth gala honors 10 marvelous child 'heart heroes'

While spring showers fell outside, a flower-filled River Crest Country Club welcomed guests for the 2024 Tarrant County Heart Ball.

Themed "Second Century in Bloom," the gorgeous garden-inspired gala on Saturday, May 4 celebrated 100 years of the American Heart Association's mission to fund life-saving research and help eradicate heart disease.

This year's event would have a special focus: children. In fact, the night specially honored 10 child "heart heroes" and their families, who are raising $75,000 for pediatric heart research.

"In our Centennial year, we are looking forward to the future of our community and increasing the education, quality of care, and heart health of our children," the organization announced in the program.

Guests were encouraged to wear pastels and floral prints - and just two days before the "Garden of Time"-themed Met Gala, who knew they'd be so on trend?

In a fun twist during the pre-dinner cocktail reception, patrons were passed cocktail flights on trays - one petite Paloma, Ranch Water, and Margarita for everyone. A string ensemble serenaded while attendees previewed auction items.

Guests then made their way upstairs to the ballroom, filled with fabulous spring floral designs on each table. The mistress of ceremonies, Madison Sawyer, anchor-reporter for CBS News Texas, welcomed the crowd and introduced gala co-chairs Lauren East and Lauren Duke. They paid tribute to honorary chairsAshli Blumenfeld and Ben Rosenthal, who were carrying on a family legacy of supporting the American Heart Association started by their grandparents, Manny and Roz Rosenthal, both of whom faced heart disease.

Featured speakers were to be husband-and-wife actors Eric and Sainty Nelsen. While Eric (of Taylor Sheridan's1883 fame) was unable to attend, Sainty underscored their support for the AHA and its special work with children. She even helped a pint-sized survivor, Lola Catron (sporting a dress with a cape befitting a super hero), speak into the microphone about her own experience with heart disease.

Emotions spilled over when another featured family came to the stage: Brandi and Jason Maxiell, and their son Jason, Jr. Twelve-year-old Jason, a football player in Southlake, recently underwent surgery to correct a heart defect. Brandi - inspired by the story of Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest on field in January 2023 - chose to have Jason's heart screened upon learning about young athletes suffering cardiac arrests during games. As the family shed tears on stage, eyes were being wiped around the room.

The annual Heart Hero award, sponsored by Stephanie and Michael Klein, recognized Dr. Vincent Tam.

After a multicourse (heart-healthy) meal of Italian salad, Chicken Piccata, and Pavlova with fresh spring berries, guests had the opportunity to give through a live auction and "Open Your Heart" appeal.

Bidding took off quickly for fabulous trips to far-off places and tickets for luxury experiences closer to home. Those who lost out in the auction still had the chance to give on site at various levels.

Tables with 100 percent participation got rewarded with gold confetti cannons, shot off at the same time for a truly celebratory end to the evening. Those who wanted to continue the festivities headed out to the tented terrace for live music and dancing.

In all, the evening raised $250,000 in support support for the American Heart Association, making the year-round campaign total raised over half a million dollars.

Spotted in the crowd, having a great time, were Rozanne Rosenthal, Marcia Jacobs, Kyle Riggs, Jen Riggs, Amber Massey, Jordan Massey, Allie Turney, Walker Turney, Shelby Simpson, Blake Simpson, Teresa Gumley, Matthew Minor, Lorene Agather, Katy Nelsen, Joe Nelsen, Christina Rodgers, Cass Rodgers, Nancy Courtney, Tara Warren, Robert Warren, Kat Loftis, Lynn Frank, Kate Frank, Brooke Loftis, Christopher Loftis, Melanie Pate, Patrick Pate, Mary Ho, Jarry Ho, Tracy McLawhorn, Chad McLawhorn, Erin Barnes, Brett Barnes, Brooke Goggans, Nick Goggans, Amber Massey, Jordan Massey, Nita Mann, Ajeet Mann, Brandy DePlante, Marc DePlante, Zia Ali, Marcia Jacobs, Melinda Johnson, Jerry Johnston, Debbie Parrott, Randy Parrott, and hundreds more.

Photo by James Edward

Ashli Rosenthal Blumenfeld and Todd Blumenfeld

american heart association children fundraising gala galas heart ball tarrant county tarrant county heart ball

Hot-to-trot party

Former Fort Worth mayor helps corral big bucks at New Hope Equine gala

Photo by Savanna Romano

Betsy Price, Scott Murray

As the sun set over expansive pastures north of Fort Worth, hundreds of city slickers headed up to the country, to Lucky Spur Ranch Retreat in Justin for the 2024 Hope Gala.

Benefiting New Hope Equine Assisted Therapy, the October 25 fundraising party went all in on the horse theme, offering guests "A Night at the Races."

About 220 attendees arrived donning Derby hats and fascinators, bowties, fedoras, and cowboy boots - it was on a ranch after all, and not Churchill Downs. They mingled and posed with New Hope horses, browsed an impressive array of silent auction items, tossed horseshoes at whiskey bottles, and wet their whistles at an open bar alfresco.

When the dinner bell rang, folks moseyed inside and filled up on a buffet of Southwestern favorites, including beef skirt steak, grilled chicken, street corn, and Yukon Gold mashed potatoes. Nothing Bundt Cakes provided enough cake bites to satisfy any sweet tooth.

Master of ceremonies, former NBC5 sports anchor Scott Murray, welcomed guests and acknowledged New Hope leadership, including gala event chair Jason Hodson.

New Hope Equine Hope Gala 2024 Claire Messerle, Betsy Price, Katie MesserlePhoto by Savanna Romano

Moments later came a rousing "Howdy, y'all!" - the familiar greeting from former Fort Worth mayor Betsy Price, who served as the event's honorary chair. She underscored the importance of the organization's mission.

"New Hope isn't just a service, but it opens doors for those who think they don't have the strength, they don't have the courage or the connections to regain their sense of independence," she told the crowd.

Photo by Savanna Romano

Hope Gala honorary chair Betsy Price with emcee Scott Murray.

Since 2012, New Hope has been healing through therapeutic horsemanship for people of all ages with physical, intellectual, or developmental special needs. In 2022, they debuted the Natural Horsemanship program for veterans and first responders grappling with post-traumatic stress.

Funds raised at the gala support the “New Hope” that riders need for a better quality of life.

But the horses benefit, too. The majority of New Hope horses enjoy a second life with the organization; some were even on local kill lists.

"This is Texas, folks! We ride horses in Texas," Price concluded. "And every dollar that you give tonight or that you invest somewhere along the way will be doubled or tripled in the returns to these folks who need the therapy and the ones who work in the barns and help us."

New Hope Equine Hope Gala 2024 Guests bid in the live auction.Photo by Savanna Romano

Auctioneer Mike Trent got bidding going fast and furiously in a live auction for one-of-a-kind trips and experiences, including a vacation to Hilton Head (sold for $2,600), a dinner with several Dallas Cowboys legends (sold for $7,000), and a luxury suite concert experience at Dickies Arena (sold for more than $10,000).

In total, the gala raised $95,000 for New Hope programs.

"The annual cost to care for one horse runs about $6,000, so your generosity will help us care for our horses that provide vital therapy to our over 40 participants," organizers said afterwards.

New Hope Equine Hope Gala 2024 Champagne Yacht Club Band kept the dance floor lively.Photo by Savanna Romano

As some guests wandered outside to enjoy the fresh nighttime air, others got moving and grooving on the dance floor to the sounds of the Champagne Yacht Club Band.

Spotted in the crowd, enjoying the night were New Hope patrons, staff, board members, volunteers, and supporters, including Hamilton Sneed, Jennifer Kiedrowski, Nicole Matwijiw, Jennifer Morris, Pat Fultz, Red Fultz, Devan Peplow, Kathleen Beisly, Emily Rogers-Hicks, Susan Altshuler, Lauren Cobb, Ashley Cox, Mikenley Johnson, Blake Johnson, Kathleen Alexander, Melissa Howard, Claire Messerle, Katie Messerle, Sharla Kershen, Dave Kershen, Jason Hodson, Aaron Sturman, Jennifer Kiedrowski, Neal Bondy, Paul Barstad, Melanie Barstad, Mark Powers, DeAnna Powers, Kim Martin, Darlene Jacobs, Jim Jacobs, Debbie Thayer, and hundreds more.