CRANBERRY TWP — The American Heart Association, Beaver and Butler divisions, announced that Dr. Scott Seibel of Tri-State Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery and Dr. Prem Kumar of Butler Memorial Hospital will co-chair the 2008 Heart Ball.

This is the second year that the divisions are joining to hold this major fundraising event.

It will be Feb. 23 at the Pittsburgh Marriott North.

"Last year's event was a huge success, raising more than $145,000," division director Barbara Roth said. "This year, we hope to raise $200,000."

"Heart disease and stroke are the number one and three killers of people in the United States. Unfortunately, most individuals do not pay attention to this fact until their lives have already been adversely affected," Seibel said. "It has been my pleasure working with the American Heart Association to raise awareness of these silent killers."

Funds raised at the 2008 Heart Ball will help support the American Heart Association's research, community service and public education programs.

Research funded by the American Heart Association has yielded important discoveries, such as CPR, life-extending drugs, pacemakers, bypass surgery and surgical techniques to repair heart defects.

"I have always been intrigued by the continuous working nature of the heart and what we can do to keep it going," Kumar said. "Heart conditions spare nobody, and once it affects you, it causes tremendous emotional and financial burdens."

On Feb. 23, cocktails will be served at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m. A band will perform from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

There also will be a dinner dance and silent and live auctions.

Advanced reservations are required. Individual tickets are $150. Patron tickets are $175, and table corporate champion tickets are $3,000.

For reservations or information on the ball and/or how to become a sponsor, contact Roth or Stacey Keating at the American Heart Association at 724-775-2447 or 724-287-1823.

Major sponsors of the event are Butler Memorial Hospital and Heritage Valley Health System. Other sponsors are Med-Fast Home Care and Pharmacy, Tri-State Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Kindred Hospital, Ohio Valley Perfusion Associates, St. Jude Medical, Tri-State Cardiology and Tri-State Total Vein Care Center.