Heart Ball Raises Nearly $900,000 for Cardiac Research

February 25, 2019February 25, 2019 Staff Report

Heart Ball Chair Tony Foreman of Foreman Wolf shares his story about the congenital heart defect he was born with. (Photo by Nicole Munchel)

More than 600 people attended the 34th annual Baltimore Heart Ball on Feb. 23 at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel.

The evening raised nearly $900,000 for the Maryland affiliate of the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association.

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Baltimore restaurateur Tony Foreman, founder and co-owner of the restaurant company Foreman Wolf, served as chair of this year’s gala. The event featured dinner and dancing, live and silent auctions, and music by Doc Scantlin and his Imperial Palms Orchestra.

Foreman is the co-owner and founder of Bar Vasquez, Charleston, Cinghiale, Petit Louis, Johnny’s, Lupa, Bin 604 Wine Sellers and Bin 201 Wine Sellers.

At the Heart Ball, he spoke about being born with a congenital heart defect and undergoing three open heart surgeries. For the live auction, Foreman donated a trip to Italy with himself as the tour guide.

February is “American Heart Month.” The Heart Ball annually brings together medical and community leaders to raise funds and awareness for cardiovascular research.

At this year’s gala, Dr. Thomas A. LaVeist, a former faculty member of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, was presented the Watkins-Saunders Award. The award honors those who champion the fight against health disparities in society.

Also honored were Courtney and John Agnoli, whose daughter, Tessa, is waiting for a heart transplant at the University of Maryland.

Last year’s Heart Ball was chaired by Dr. Scott Rifkin, Jmore’s publisher.

For information, visit heart.org/en/affiliates/maryland/greater-baltimore

Watch Tony Foreman’s Jan. 31 appearance on This Week in Baltimore Eating here: