Christina and Ryan Shea have been named the 2026 chairs of the Broward Heart Ball, leading the local fundraising and awareness campaign for the American Heart Association. The Sheas will work alongside a group of volunteers, supporters and community partners to advance the Association’s lifesaving initiatives in Broward County.
Ellice Martinez, executive director of the American Heart Association – Broward, commended the couple’s leadership, citing their passion for the mission and understanding of local health challenges as reasons they are well suited to lead this year’s campaign.
The Heart Ball is an annual event that recognizes supporters and raises funds for the American Heart Association’s work. The announcement frames the Ball as a celebration of hope and progress driven by those who support efforts to improve community health. Key areas supported through Heart Ball fundraising include scientific research, public policy change, advancing equitable health for under-resourced and underserved populations, and educational programs that empower individuals to manage their health.
As campaign chairs, the Sheas’ role is to help mobilize community resources and awareness to support those priorities, with emphasis on expanding access to care and advancing research.
The 2026 Broward Heart Ball will take place on September 26, 2026, at The Diplomat Beach Resort from 6–11 p.m. The evening is planned as a night to honor volunteers and patrons, present survivor stories, and provide entertainment including dinner, dancing and an auction. The program is intended both to celebrate achievements and to raise funds that support the Association’s local and national work.
The announcement highlights the Ball as an opportunity for community engagement and recognition of those contributing to heart health efforts in Broward.
Organizers named the top sponsors for the 2026 Broward Heart Ball: Cardio Partners, CITY HOME, UKG Partners, Aligned Solutions, Right Management and Florida Power and Light. These sponsors are acknowledged as primary supporters of the event and the local campaign.
Sponsorship and community partnerships are presented as essential components for driving the Association’s fundraising goals and enabling continued investment in research, policy advocacy and community programs.
For those interested in supporting or attending the Broward Heart Ball, the announcement directs readers to visit heart.org/BrowardHeartBall for more information. A local contact was provided for direct inquiries: Kristin Shoemaker at kristin.shoemaker@heart.org. The release positions the Ball as a way for community members to contribute financially and participate in efforts to improve heart health locally.
The release includes a summary of the American Heart Association’s mission and broad activities. Described as a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives, the Association focuses on ensuring equitable health in all communities, funding research, advocating for public health policy, and providing health information and resources. The organization has served as a leading source of health information for more than a century and is supported globally by millions of volunteers.
The announcement reiterates that Heart Ball proceeds support the Association’s work in science, policy and community care, with an emphasis on implementing proven solutions to improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Media inquiries were directed to a named contact with an email address at the American Heart Association. Public inquiries were referred to the organization’s public phone number. The release also references the Association’s websites—heart.org and stroke.org—for additional resources and connection options.
The announcement includes visual assets associated with the event and organization and notes multimedia usage policies. No additional programmatic or budgetary details beyond sponsors, date, location and contact information were reported in the source.