Amanda and Franklin Bass have been named co-chairs of the American Heart Association’s 2026–27 Heart of Hot Springs campaign. The release states the couple will lead community-wide efforts aimed at advancing heart health and promoting longer, healthier lives across Garland County. The campaign is presented as a community-focused effort to raise awareness, share survivor stories, and mobilize local supporters to address heart disease and stroke in the county.
According to the announcement, the campaign will come together at the Hot Springs Heart Ball, scheduled for 6–11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, 2026, at the Hot Springs Convention Center. The event program described in the release includes honoring volunteers and patrons, sharing survivor stories, and providing dinner, dancing and an auction. The news release identifies the Heart Ball as the focal fundraising and community-engagement event for the Heart of Hot Springs campaign.
Amanda Bass, identified as director of community engagement for Habitat for Humanity of Garland County, commented that heart disease has touched her family. She said that deeper involvement with the American Heart Association revealed that Garland County faces some of the most significant heart health challenges in Arkansas, and that knowing friends and neighbors are affected made the mission feel more personal and urgent. The release presents this lived-experience perspective as a motivating factor for the Basses’ leadership of the campaign.
The release notes that the Basses’ daughter will participate in the event as one of 50 Sweethearts presented at the Hot Springs Heart Ball. Franklin Bass, described as community bank president for southwest Arkansas at Arvest Bank, said involvement across generations adds meaning to their family’s participation. The inclusion of family members in the Heart Ball program is portrayed as part of the Basses’ effort to make the campaign a shared, multigenerational community effort.
Nikki Smith, executive director of American Heart Association–Central Arkansas, is quoted praising Amanda and Franklin Bass. Smith said their energy and commitment to building a healthier future make them exceptional choices to lead the campaign and expressed excitement to see how their vision will inspire the community. This endorsement frames the Basses as community leaders whose personal engagement aligns with the AHA’s local goals.
The release lists Arvest Bank, CHI St. Vincent and National Park Medical Center as sponsors of the 2027 Hot Springs Heart Ball. Event activities identified include presentation of Sweethearts, recognition of volunteers and patrons, survivor-story presentations, dinner, dancing and an auction. The announcement positions the Heart Ball as both a celebration of progress and a fundraising mechanism to support the AHA’s mission in the region.
For information on supporting or attending the Hot Springs Heart Ball, the release directs readers to www.heart.org/HotSpringsHeartBall. A media or event contact provided in the announcement is Kathy Findley at Kathy.Findley@heart.org. The release also reiterates the American Heart Association public inquiries number, 1-800-AHA-USA1, as a general contact point.
The release concludes with the AHA’s organizational description. The American Heart Association is characterized as a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives, committed to equitable health in all communities. The statement in the release notes that the organization has provided health information for more than 100 years, is supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, funds research, advocates for public health, and provides resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. The release also provides AHA affiliate and social media links and repeats the public phone number 1-800-AHA-USA1 for general inquiries.
The announcement includes a photograph captioned Franklin and Amanda Bass and indicates multimedia usage and download links are available under the AHA/ASA Multimedia Materials Usage Policy. The release includes general media contact information for Cyd King at cyd.king@heart.org for media inquiries and reiterates the AHA public inquiry phone number.
(End of content synthesized from the source release.)