FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Staci Dow
American Heart Association
(505) 823-8704

Sheldon Liebman
L&S Marketing, Inc.
(505) 332-1281

1999 HEART BALL SCHEDULED FOR
FEBRUARY 6, 1999
AHA Gala Features "40s" Theme and is Again Sponsored By Norwest Banks

(January 15, 1999 - Albuquerque, NM) The American Heart Association, Desert Mountain Affiliate and Norwest Banks present the 1999 Heart Ball, an elegant evening of fine dining and dancing to be held on Saturday, February 6, 1999 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Major sponsors of this year's event include Norwest Bank as a Platinum Heart Sponsor, Presbyterian Heart Center as a Diamond Heart Sponsor, Isleta Gaming Palace as a Gold Heart Sponsor, Lovelace Health Systems and the New Mexico Heart Institute as Silver Heart Sponsors, and Sun Healthcare Group, Inc. Media sponsors include KOAT-TV and Magic 99.5 FM. This black tie gala has become the premier formal event in Albuquerque and also supports lifesaving research, public education and community programs for the American Heart Association. Over 80% of the proceeds of this exciting affair will benefit New Mexicans.

The 1999 Heart Ball incorporates a few exciting changes from previous years. First is the timing, which is closer to Valentine's Day and coincides with American Heart Month. The second big change is the debut of a theme for the event. This year, the theme is "The 40s," which allows attendees to dress not only in black tie but in 40s attire, if they prefer.

The 40s theme will be incorporated into the music for the Heart Ball, which will be provided by "Bo Whittaker and his Band of Enchantment." Mr. Whittaker, originally from New Zealand, spent 25 years on the road with show bands and has made his home in New Mexico for the past 15 years. His band plays Swing, Latin, Jazz and Big Band music.

Additional entertainment will be provided by Marlene Johnson and Paul Fisher, owners of the Albuquerque Ballroom Dance Center. Johnson and Fisher are ballroom dance instructors at the University of New Mexico and Directors of the Rio Grande Rockers Swing Team. Members of the Swing Team will provide a dance exhibition at the Heart Ball.

This year's event is being hosted by KOAT-TV's Augusta Meyers and begins at 6:30 PM with both a Live and Silent Auction featuring over 200 items representing the best of New Mexico. This impressive list includes airline tickets, weekend getaways, original art work, gift certificates to some of the best restaurants in Albuquerque and more! Dinner and swing dancing start at 8:00 PM.

Heart Disease is the number one killer of New Mexicans and this is the largest fundraising event in New Mexico to battle this illness. The volunteer Chairperson for this year’s Heart Ball, David Swope from The Frame Game, set the 1999 goal at $110,000, which is raised mostly through sponsorships and individual ticket sales. The net proceeds from the event will fund cardiovascular research and education in New Mexico.

We hope you will join Norwest Banks and the American Heart Association at the Heart Ball to fight heart disease in New Mexico. To purchase tickets for this event or to become a sponsor, please call the American Heart Association at 823-8700. Individual tickets are priced at $100 and sponsorships begin at $1500. Thank you for your support.

# # #

Founded in 1924 by six cardiologists in New York City, the American Heart Association is a non-profit, voluntary health organization supported by public contributions and the donated time and effort of tens of thousands of volunteers. It is the only voluntary organization in the United States devoting all of its human and financial resources to the reduction of disability and death caused by cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

The programs of the American Heart Association are working and lives are being saved. In the years from 1979 to 1989 the death rate from coronary heart disease fell by 30%. The death rate from stroke fell by 31%. With continued support, these percentages can go even higher in the next decade.

This year's Heart Ball Committee includes the following people:

David Swope, The Frame Game, Chair
Governor Bruce King, Patron Chair
Nicole Marlowe, Presbyterian Healthplex, Auction Chair
Terry Farmer, Decorations Chair
Lori Liebman, Children's Hospital of New Mexico, Entertainment Chair
Erica Farmer, Cottonwood Printing, Event Publication Chair
Maureen Keleher, PNM, Mailings Chair
Jeff Romero, Smith Barney, Menu Chair
Sheldon Liebman, L&S Marketing, Publicity Chair
Jill Williams, Southwest Cardiology Associates, Reservations Chair
Lynn Haynes, Presbyterian Health Group, Sponsorship/Table Sales Chair
Shirley Fisk, Val-Pack, Corporate Sponsorship/Table Sales Chair
Tracy Baczkiewicz
Alex Bohl
Shelly Bohl
Pat Brandon
Shanna Chavarria
Bruce Farmer
Linda Hagman
Kristen Herreid
Vicky Keith
Howard Lewis
Laura Lewis
Tom McLean
Glenn McWilliams
Stephanie Michnovicz
Peggy Moeller-Meade
Kelli Strother
Chris Thomas
Craig Timm, M.D.
Linda Waggener, R.N.
Mark Walling
Salim Walji, M.D.

ATTN EDITORS: Digital Images Are Available at http://www.lsmarketing.com/ls-image.htm

American Heart Association
Desert Mountain Affiliate
P.O. Box 90790
Albuquerque, NM 87199-0790
Phone: (505) 823-8700
Fax: (505) 823-8701
Email: ahanm@earthlink.net
Web: http://www.americanheart.org

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