In the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Upstate Heart Ball will take place as a digital experience March 13 at 6 p.m.
This year’s event has also expanded its mission to focus on improving the health of underserved communities, said ball co-chair and United Community Bank chairman and CEO Lynn Harton.
“This fall, we launched the Heart of the Upstate campaign,” he said. “Through this campaign, we’re expanding the mission of the traditional Heart Ball by focusing on the COVID-19-magnified struggles of our neighbors including health inequities of our most vulnerable populations.”
By working with local donors, the campaign has helped launch a farmers market in the Pleasant Valley community, worked with local food banks to drive health donations and provided telehealth resources to the Greenville Free Medical Clinic, said Harton.
In addition to an expanded mission, the virtual event will feature a live auction led by Robert Hughes of Hughes Development Corporation and Truist Financial’s Karen Sobocinski and Carl Sobocinski of Table 301 and the stories of local survivors. A silent auction will be conducted by Marion Crawford of Crawford and United Community Bank and community volunteer Angi Einstein.
Items for the live and silent auctions include trips, exclusive one-of-a-kind experiences and packages from popular local businesses across the Upstate. Upstate Heart Ball participants will also have the opportunity to donate directly to the American Heart Association through the Open Your Heart campaign.
“This will be unlike any digital event you’ve experienced before,” said event co-chair and community volunteer Flavia Harton. “We encourage everyone to tune in and help us continue to strive for a healthier community.”
For more information, visit UpstateHeartBall.heart.org.
