On Saturday night, The Ambassador Banquet & Conference Center hosted the 2023 Erie Heart Ball. Attendees participated in auctions to raise money for the organization. This year's Heart Ball Chair Couple was James and Jeannine Teed.

James Teed said this event is very special to him. "Back when I was in high school, my father passed away of a heart attack so that is where my journey began with the American Heart Association," Teed said.

"It is important to us to be chair couple and be able to raise money to help further education and the research for the American Heart Association," he said.

Sarah and Grace Teed are the couple's daughters. "We do not want what happened to our grandfather to happen to our father or anyone else so we are here to raise funds and awareness for other families having similar struggles, Sarah Teed said. Her sister, Grace Teed said, "it is great to hear about him and I am so glad that we can but it is obviously not the same because we never got to meet him and that is something that is really saddening for us," she said.

Gina Klofft, who is the Erie Division Director for the American Heart Association, said, "I am so proud to be able to represent this organization and do it alongside volunteers like the Teeds, who help make a big difference in our communit."

Erie News Now is the media sponsor of the Erie Heart Ball and Erie News Now's Eva Mastromatteo was the emcee of the event.