When you’re young, heart disease probably isn’t something you give a whole lot of thought to.
The American Heart Association is working hard to change that, and the effort is gaining particular momentum in Denver via Young Hearts. Chelsea Hood Russell, Courtney Lake Downey, Nicole Hewett and Quinn Washington are the forces behind Young Hearts, and the group had a major presence at the 2011 Heart Ball.
Fifty of them arrived at the Hyatt Regency Convention Center at 8:30 to enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the ballroom foyer while the 500 “mainstream” guests were inside dining on fillet of beef and Black Forest cheesecake. At 9:30, the two parties joined for dancing to SoulX.
Russell, a heart-disease survivor, coordinated the Young Hearts participation. She’s the daughter of longtime AHA supporters Trisha and Dr. Don Hood and will graduate from the University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law in May. She and husband Ben are looking forward to the birth of her first child, due to arrive on July 26, the same day Chelsey is scheduled to take the Colorado Bar Exam.
In addition to hosting networking happy hours, the members of Young Hearts promote CPR training, help their peers become better educated about preventing heart disease and stroke and will have a team for the annual Heart Walk on June 4.
Xcel Energy’s leader in Colorado, Dick Kelly, and his wife, Robin, chaired the 2011 Heart Ball and this week announced that it grossed $548,000.
Fortunes of the Heart was the theme, and many of the guests wore red, either in whole — like the gowns selected by Maureen O’Hare, chair of the AHA’s Denver board; Jan Hammond, Cindy Molk and Colleen Carlson — or in part, like the ties or cummerbunds sported by Dr. Barry Molk, Gil Hammond, Dr. Reginald Washington, Mike Plante, Steve Edmonds and Ted Gelt.
Others there to support the AHA were Exempla’s Bob Ladenburger and his wife, Susie; John Hill, chief executive of the Medical Center of Aurora; David Port, president of the AHA’s Denver board; Don and Mary Elliman; Dan Jones, manager of Nordstrom Cherry Creek, and his partner, psychologist Greg Miller; Colorado Avid Golfer publisher Allen Walters and his wife, Nancy, who has just joined DaVita as an events manager; Charles Goldstein of Neiman Marcus; Holly Kylberg, owner of Clock Tower Events; Drs. Bonita and Stan Carson; U.S. Bank president Hassan Salem and his wife, Sheila; Valere Shane; Carrie Ann Roseman; Eunice Romano; and Sue Lake, who is retiring after 20 years with the Heart Association and moving to Michigan. For the past several months, she has been serving as the interim director.
Emcees were KOSI morning personality Denise Plante and 7News anchor Christine Chang.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, and GetItWrite on Twitter
