SPOTLIGHT AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION

Heart Association goal motivates ball chairmen

BENTONVILLE - Jack and Mechelle Sinclair have never seen anything like it.

The Sinclairs have lived in several places during their lifetimes, but they say they’ve never lived in one where residents support nonprofit organizations as passionately as the people of Northwest Arkansas.

And near the top of that list of most-strongly supported organizations has to be the local chapter of the American Heart Association. In large part because of that support, the Sinclairs volunteered to be co-chairmen of the 2013 Heart Ball,which is Saturday at the John Q. Hammons Convention Center in Rogers.

“We’re particularly proud to be involved with the local chapter of the American Heart Association,” says Jack Sinclair, an executive with Wal-Mart Stores Inc. “It’s quite inspiring how the community supports these things. It’s an amazing community. I’ve never been in another community that pulls behind these kind of charities.”

The Heart Ball begins at 6 p.m. The 2012 ball raised $410,000, and event planners have set an even loftier goal for this year: $500,000.

The theme is “Returnto Southampton,” and the suggested attire is summery rather than black-tie. So it’s cocktail dresses for women and seersucker or evening jackets for men.

“Some people didn’t like stiff bow ties and tuxedos, particularly the guys, so we went with a more informal, relaxed kind of theme, where people could have a really good night but weren’t so stiff,” Mechelle Sinclair explains.

The Heart Ball has historically been one of the largest annual fundraisers in Northwest Arkansas, and this year’s version looks to build upon what has beenpopular in years past. That means large live and silent auctions.

It means a popular entertainer in Tate Stevens, winner of Season 2 of The X Factor. And it means organizers are bringing back the Heart Ball’s popular games where, for a donation, couples can play games like bocce ball, mini golf and croquet with the chance to win prizes.

“You can be a kid again, playing the classic games they had at fairgrounds and festivals,” Mechelle Sinclair says. “People just really enjoy them. They’re there to have fun, and [the games] really add to the evening.”

Like many people in Northwest Arkansas, the Sinclairs have been affected by heart disease.

Jack’s grandfather died from heart disease, and his father had a heart attack at a young age, as did Mechelle’s brother.

Mechelle is in her second year on Circle of Red, a group of high-profile women who lend their names and faces to the American Heart Association’s mission.

There are 88 women in the Northwest Arkansas Circle of Red chapter, making it the largest in the nation, according to Christina Hinds, chapter social events director.

“It’s incredible,” Mechelle says of Circle of Red. “I’ve invited friends and neighbors to be involved. Everyone’s got a personal story [involving heart disease], whether it’s their father or sister or mother, and they’re always very keen to get involved.”

During the Heart Ball, the 2013 “Sweethearts” will be introduced. The Sweethearts are 30 high school sophomore girls who are serving as public faces for the heart association, as well as hearthealth models for their peers. Their involvement began in August and ends this month. The chapter is recruiting for the 2014 class.

Over the past year, Sweethearts have provided more than 1,500 hours of community service.

The Sinclairs’ daughter, Kirsty, was a Sweetheart in 2012, and continued to stay involved as a “Big Sis” this year.

“The American Heart Association is a great nationalcharity, but what you’ve got is local people who’ve put in a huge amount of energy,” Jack Sinclair says. “That’s one ofthe reasons Mechelle and I wanted to get involved, to support the energy local people put in.”For more information about the American Heart Association, call (479) 442-6540 or visit heart.org/ nwaheartball.

Northwest Profile, Pages 33 on 05/05/2013

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