2022 Milwaukee Heart and Stroke Ball
- Photos courtesy of the American Heart Association
The 2022 Milwaukee American Heart Association’s Heart and Stroke Ball had already reached a record total in dollars raised when the festivities closed Saturday, May 7, at a packed Pfister Hotel.
And then one more donation pushed that amount even higher.
A generous donation by the Windhover Foundation brought the total dollar figure to $1 million for the 45th annual event to make an already highly successful night go to another level.
“It has been an incredible 2022 Heart of Milwaukee campaign topped off by a Heart and Stroke Ball on May 7th that was absolutely incredible to witness,” said Bernie Sherry, 2022 Heart of Milwaukee Chair and CEO and Ministry Market Executive for Ascension Wisconsin. “The power of community impact was demonstrated Saturday evening through the generosity of individuals and corporations aligned to support our community. The dollars we raised will go a long way to fund cardiovascular medical research, educate consumers on healthy living, and foster appropriate cardiac care in Southeast Wisconsin.”
Around 450 attendees filled the Grand Ballroom for the event, which included a silent auction, live auction and a heart-warming story of Lily Lachman, a 13-year-old Kenosha girl whose life was saved by a heart transplant seven years ago after she was diagnosed with congenital heart disease.
Among the other key donations to the AHA was $75,000 raised by Sendik’s as part of its “Round-up at the register” campaign during February, March and April.
“We’re so appreciative of all the support from everyone who attended, to all of our sponsors, and to Bernie and Ascension for their leadership throughout our planning for this year’s Heart Ball,” Milwaukee American Association Executive Director Katie Connolly said. “The generous outpouring of support will clearly help us continue our mission of ridding our citizens of heart disease and stroke. It was truly a special night.”
In the past five years, the AHA has funded 81 total studies for more than $13 million in Wisconsin, including 33 at the Medical College of Wisconsin, 42 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, four at Marquette University and two at Versiti in Milwaukee.

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2022 American Heart Association Heart and Stroke Ball Chairman Bernie Sherry, CEO and Ministry Market Executive for Ascension Wisconsin, addresses the packed house at the Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee, during the May 7 event. The 45th annual Heart and Stroke Ball raised $1 million for the American Heart Association.
- KEVIN HARNACK

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Nicole Visintainer speaks during the May 7 Milwaukee American Heart Association’s Heart and Stroke Ball at the Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee. Visintainer is the mother of this year’s featured survivor, Lily Lachman (left), a Kenosha 13-year-old who received a life-saving heart transplant six years ago.
- KEVIN HARNACK

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Kenosha’s Manny Rios gathered hundreds of pieces of sports equipment as part of a “Bring a Ball to the Ball” event as part of this year’s American Heart Association’s Heart and Stroke Ball at the Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee. Rios had a heart transplant when he was 10 years old. The sports equipment will be delivered to schools and organizations in southeastern Wisconsin.
- KEVIN HARNACK

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Auctioneer Wade Leist (left), 2022 Heart and Stroke Ball Chairman Bernie Sherry and American Heart Association Senior Development Director Bethany Klein react to news that this year’s Heart and Stroke Ball, held May 7 at the Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee, raised $1 million. More than 450 people attended the 45th annual event.
- KEVIN HARNACK

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2022 American Heart Association’s Heart and Stroke Ball Chairman Bernie Sherry, CEO and Ministry Market Executive for Ascension Wisconsin, raises his paddle during the May 7 event at the Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee. A donation by the Windhover Foundation brought the total amount raised to $1 million for the AHA. The event drew around 450 attendees.
- KEVIN HARNACK

HB pic 2 for release.JPG
Sendik’s Owner Ted Balistreri on May 7 presented the American Heart Association with a $75,000 donation raised by the “Round-up at the register” campaign in February, March and April. Joining Balistreri (far right) on stage for the presentation during the AHA’s Heart and Stroke Ball at the Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee, were (left) 2022 Heart and Stroke Ball Chairman Bernie Sherry, CEO and Ministry Market Executive for Ascension Wisconsin, and Kenosha’s Lily Lachman, this year’s featured survivor.
- KEVIN HARNACK

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WISN’s Patrick Paolantonio, this year’s American Heart Association’s Heart and Stroke Ball emcee, describes one of the live auction items during the May 7 event at the Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee. More than 450 people attended the 45th annual event, which raised $1 million for the AHA.
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_DSC0213.JPG
2022 American Heart Association Heart and Stroke Ball Chairman Bernie Sherry, CEO and Ministry Market Executive for Ascension Wisconsin, addresses the packed house at the Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee, during the May 7 event. The 45th annual Heart and Stroke Ball raised $1 million for the American Heart Association.
- KEVIN HARNACK
_DSC0414 (002).JPG
Nicole Visintainer speaks during the May 7 Milwaukee American Heart Association’s Heart and Stroke Ball at the Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee. Visintainer is the mother of this year’s featured survivor, Lily Lachman (left), a Kenosha 13-year-old who received a life-saving heart transplant six years ago.
- KEVIN HARNACK
_DSC6045.JPG
Kenosha’s Manny Rios gathered hundreds of pieces of sports equipment as part of a “Bring a Ball to the Ball” event as part of this year’s American Heart Association’s Heart and Stroke Ball at the Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee. Rios had a heart transplant when he was 10 years old. The sports equipment will be delivered to schools and organizations in southeastern Wisconsin.
- KEVIN HARNACK
_DSC6160.JPG
Auctioneer Wade Leist (left), 2022 Heart and Stroke Ball Chairman Bernie Sherry and American Heart Association Senior Development Director Bethany Klein react to news that this year’s Heart and Stroke Ball, held May 7 at the Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee, raised $1 million. More than 450 people attended the 45th annual event.
- KEVIN HARNACK
HB pic 1 for release.JPG
2022 American Heart Association’s Heart and Stroke Ball Chairman Bernie Sherry, CEO and Ministry Market Executive for Ascension Wisconsin, raises his paddle during the May 7 event at the Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee. A donation by the Windhover Foundation brought the total amount raised to $1 million for the AHA. The event drew around 450 attendees.
- KEVIN HARNACK
HB pic 2 for release.JPG
Sendik’s Owner Ted Balistreri on May 7 presented the American Heart Association with a $75,000 donation raised by the “Round-up at the register” campaign in February, March and April. Joining Balistreri (far right) on stage for the presentation during the AHA’s Heart and Stroke Ball at the Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee, were (left) 2022 Heart and Stroke Ball Chairman Bernie Sherry, CEO and Ministry Market Executive for Ascension Wisconsin, and Kenosha’s Lily Lachman, this year’s featured survivor.
- KEVIN HARNACK