For 18 years the folks from the Henry Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease have held an annual fundraising gala. Recently, this event kicked off with a pre-Benefactors? party held at Martin?s West. There were many local notables in attendance, including event co-chairs Dr. Roger Blumenthal and Ed Speno, Liz and Tim Rhode (longtime supporters of the event and founders of the Maryland Athletic Club) and Drs. Peter Kwiterovich and Eric Topol, who were the evening?s medical honorees. A special appearance by Johns Hopkins lacrosse coach Dave Pietramala was a definite highlight.

A very special presentation was made to 2008 Heartfest Community honoree Brady Vontran, an 18-year-old Calvert Hall senior who is the founder of Brady?s Heart Foundation. Having been born with a congenital heart defect, Brady has had two open-heart surgeries and requires ongoing medical care. Over the past four years his foundation has raised nearly $100,000 for The Children?s House at Johns Hopkins and The Children?s House at St. Casimir in Baltimore.