For 2013, the American Heart Association will celebrate a special anniversary of 30 years since the first Heart Ball. The event will consist of cocktails, dinner, dancing with music provided by the Hunter Sullivan Band and a live auction. Sharing her story for the first time publicly will be Houston philanthropist and author Connie Reeves Cooke, who suffered a massive heart attack at her Lake Travis home in August.

This year's auction will include a $20,000 MIKIMOTO-designed pearl necklace, donated by Zadok Jewelers. This "Strand of Hope" item is one-of-a-kind, and features 47 hand-strung, white South Sea pearls, each representative of an individual whose life has been touched by heart disease and stroke.

Attire: black tie.