'Heart Ball' Caps American Heart Month; Annual Black Tie Benefit A Celebration Of Life

All photographs by Zach Wood for REVAMP.com.

SOUTHWEST -- Saturday evening served as a celebration of life for the American Heart Association (AHA), as the nonprofit returned its signature black tie benefit to the District for a second straight year at the posh Mandarin Oriental hotel.

Simply titled the 'Heart Ball', the elegant annual affair rounded out a busy series of initiatives for the health organization, with February designated American Heart Month throughout the United States.

More than 500 of the D.C. metropolitan region's most prominent physician, corporate, health care, and community leaders turned-out for the occasion, including CBS News congressional correspondent Nancy Cordes and Joe Beninati, announcer for the Washington Capitals.

Beyond the requisite auction, dinner, and dancing found at all black tie fundraisers, Saturday's gathering also honored both retired and active duty United States Military doctors by way of the AHA's 'Heart Heroes' program.

Additionally, a unique 'Heart After Dark' late night component to the gala ensured a healthy mix of young professionals were also in attendance, thereby laying the foundation for another generation of supporters.

Proceeds from the Heart Ball will be used for local community outreach efforts, as well as critical cardiovascular research. Research funded by the AHA has led to many important scientific breakthroughs, such as: artificial valves, CPR, clot-busting drugs, pacemakers, angioplasty, bypass surgery, and medicines to control high blood pressure and cholesterol.

Still, heart disease remains the number one killer of people in the United States today, with the sad distinction of killing more people annually than then next five causes of death combined.