Tarrant County Heart Ball sets new fundraising milestone

FORT WORTH, April 16, 2025 — The American Heart Association is driving community-wide efforts to help ensure every individual in Tarrant County and beyond has the opportunity for a full, healthy life. To help further this work, the 30th Annual Tarrant County Heart Ball, held on April 5, 2025, at the River Crest Country Club, set a new fundraising record, with contributions still coming in, totaling almost one million dollars. 

Kim Carter, Chair of the 2025 Tarrant County Heart Ball, has been instrumental in driving the campaign's success. Her leadership, passion, and commitment to the Association's mission have inspired the community to come together and make a significant impact. "Kim Carter's bold advocacy of heart health, and her dedication and vision for this year's Heart Ball made it a record-breaking success," said Meagan Hemenway, Executive Director of the American Heart Association in Tarrant County. "We are incredibly grateful for Kim, the sponsors, and all of the supporters of this lifesaving effort. It is an honor to walk alongside them in our shared commitment to the health and wellness of our community." 

"My passion for the mission of the American Heart Association is what drove me as Heart Ball chair. During the last year, I’ve seen the lifesaving importance of CPR and that led me to say ‘yes’ to raising awareness and education across our community,” said Kim Carter. “I’ve also seen the growing need for nutrition security in our community and I’ve been inspired by the innovative work that the American Heart Association is doing. I believe that by working together, we can make a real difference in the health and well-being of families, and especially our next generation, our children. I’m honored to work alongside others who share this commitment to create a lasting impact for our community." 

The evening highlighted the story of Rielle Zacharias, who underwent open heart surgery at just three years of age to repair a hole in her heart at Cook Children's. Guests were moved by Rielle and her parents, Jamie and Andy, who were all in attendance, for vulnerably sharing their journey and the lifesaving medical advancements that enable Rielle to thrive despite being born with a congenital heart defect. Their story underscored the vital work of the American Heart Association and the generosity of its supporters, and Rielle’s energy and enthusiasm for life inspired everyone in the room.  

The formal dress code featured guests in elegant black and cream attire with hints of the Association's signature red, complemented by clean, crisp geometric accents that aligned with the event's theme Shaping the Future of Children’s Heart Health. The celebration continued with a spectacular performance by dueling pianos, which stole the show and kept the energy going. 

The Tarrant County Heart Ball celebrates hope and progress made through the dedication and passion of all who support the Association’s efforts to impact the community’s health. These efforts include the relentless pursuit of scientific discovery, public policy change, equitable health for all, and education to equip the community to take control of their health. This year's Tarrant County Heart Ball top sponsors were: 

Before the evening concluded, the Tarrant County team recognized Kim Carter and mission supporters who had already committed their support for next year, raising a collective $80,000 already. Under Kim's leadership, these dedicated supporters said yes to continuing their support of this mission into 2026 and beyond:   

As the 2025 initiative wraps up, the American Heart Association's local team is already planning for next year and is looking forward to announcing and celebrating the 2026 Heart Ball Chair in the months ahead. For more information on how to support or attend, visit www.heart.org/tarrantcountyheartball or contact McKenzie Lamb at McKenzie.Lamb@heart.org. 

All photos from the 2025 Tarrant County Heart Ball can be found here. 

About the American Heart Association