By: Isabelle Puente
‘Local dollars doing local work’, is the motto of one extremely important organization in Jackson.
Friends of Heart aims to celebrate and fundraise for cardiovascular health through their ‘Black Tie & Blue Jeans’ event August 1, at the Carl Perkins Civic Center.
“Black Tie & Blue Jeans is our largest fundraiser … we have a live auction, a silent auction and then we have dinner,” said Sarah Smith, managing director for Friends of Heart. “And this year, we’ve got Bourbon and Basil catering – and it’s always so good – they do a great job, then we have a cash bar and we have G3 (entertainment) coming out of Memphis this year.”
What started in 2017 as a way to help West Tennessee get the cardiovascular care it needs has since grown to an organization that offers many preventative care efforts. Friends of Heart now proudly offers a 4-minute community program, AED distribution, youth EKG screenings, the Anna Lambert Fund, staff education, clinical research, as well as lots of community outreach.
Smith gave Golden Media insight as to why she decided to start working with Friends of Heart.
“I did some research on it and I quickly started hearing stories about it and people I knew who had been helped by Friends of Heart,” Smith said. “And I also realized these stories I was hearing – they sound like these national headlines on the Today show or ABC – but these were not.
“These were people I know. These are local stories that are happening in our community.”
Smith also said that West Tennessee has the poorest cardiovascular health and the highest cardiovascular disease rate throughout the state.
Friends of Heart currently serves all 19 counties of West Tennessee through their AED (Automated External Defibrillator) Grant Program where organizations can apply, pay a $600 fee, and in return are given an AED, then taught how to use it and how to maintain it.
All the proceeds from ‘Black Tie & Blue Jeans’ go directly to Friends of Heart and helps fund their Grant program, 4-Minute community program, education and awareness and their free EKG screenings.
If you would like to attend this special and important fundraiser, you can contact Smith through their website friendsofheart.org or email [email protected].
If you would like to donate to Friends of Heart, you can donate through their website or send checks to P.O. Box 12393, Jackson, TN.
(PHOTO: Sarah Smith)
