Mark your calendars. The HEARTest Yard, in partnership with Steak 48, is hosting the fourth annual HEARTest Yard Ungala on Monday, Feb. 24. The event brings a celebrity-studded guest list to SouthPark for a red (but really, green) carpet, cocktail reception, three-course meal + fine wine and silent auction with 100% of proceeds going to The HEARTest Yard and Levine Children’s Hospital.
CLTtoday spoke with Panthers legend Greg Olsen ahead of next month’s event, which hits close to home. Olsen’s son, TJ, was born with a severe congenital heart defect. Following several open-heart surgeries and a successful heart transplant as a young child, the experience inspired the Olsens to begin The HEARTest Yard.
“He has such a great outlook on life,” explained Olsen. “We’re very grateful that he’s been able to come out the other side of this. As for this event, who doesn’t want to just come, have a great dinner, and just know that all the money raised will go towards helping support a really special place at Levine Children’s Hospital.”
The Ungala is truly special — last year’s event raised $305,000 which equates to over 6,100 hours of in-home nursing care for a new heart baby. Plus, the funds raised by the event goes to help families.
“People’s lives are being changed because of nights like this,” said Olsen. “There’s new programs that we’re able to fund to bring a higher level of care and great doctors and more great teammates to the healthcare program as a result of nights like this.”
Individual tickets are $1,200 + table reservations are being accepted. Want to help but can’t attend? Participation in the virtual silent auction is an option. Plus, The HEARTest Yard hosts a number of fundraising events year-round.
