On April 7, 2011 the National Marfan Foundation celebrated the 11th Annual HeARTworks Gala, the Foundation’s largest annual fundraising event held each year in New York City. More than 400 guests were on hand for the celebration with a goal to raise almost $1 million to support the NMF’s core programs of patient support, public awareness and medical education.
2011 Gala Leadership Honorary Chairman: Honorable Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor New York City. Corporate Host - Karen Murray, President VF Sportswear and "Hero with a Heart" Honorees: Jeffrey C. LeSage, U.S. National Managing Partner, KPMG and St. Jude Medical, Dinner Chairs include, Ben Carpenter, Hal Dietz, M.D., Susan & Randy Falco, Len Girardi, M.D., Alix McLean Jennings & Ezra Jennings, Ann Reinking, Mary Roman, M.D., Michael L. Weamer

Created by Karen Murray, NMF Board Member and President of VF Sportswear, the event began in 1998 as a small cocktail reception titled “The Marfan Artists Project.” The evening featured art exhibits and performances, as well as an art auction. In 2000, the event was slightly reformatted and HeARTworks was born. In 2005, the event moved from its original location at Liz Claiborne’s New York showroom to Gotham Hall, and then made its way to Cipriani 42nd Street in 2006, where it is still held today.
Each year, leaders in the medical, corporate and Marfan communities are honored with the NMF’s Hero with a Heart Award. This award is presented to individuals who have gone above and beyond to support the efforts of the Foundation and the entire Marfan syndrome and related disorders community.