The American Heart Association 2025 Heart and Stroke Ball on February,15th at The Pfister Hotel.

By, Dan Truttschel, Milwaukee American Heart Association Marketing Communications Director.

An emotional story about a 13-year-old boy, who was born with a congenital heart defect and has overcome several obstacles in his young life, was among the highlights at the 2025 Milwaukee Heart and Stroke Ball on Feb. 15, at The Pfister Hotel.

The story, played to a packed ballroom in a video produced by Zizzo Group, featured Gabe Boylen, of Elkhorn. Gabe was adopted at birth by Ryan and Sarah Boylen and had the first of three open-heart surgeries at just nine days old and his last in 2015.

Gabe also overcame a serious health scare a year ago when he went into heart failure, but he recovered from that after an extended hospital stay.

Becky Menefee, M3 Insurance vice president, chaired this year’s Heart of Milwaukee campaign, a year-round effort that raises funds to support the American Heart Association’s mission to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives while supporting priority issues in Milwaukee.

This year’s emcee was Blake Eason, a news anchor with WISN12 in Milwaukee.

Photo Gallery by Erol Reyal.

Thanks to MKE Lifestyle for your support! Stay tuned and watch for the 2025 AHA Heart and Stroke Ball to be published online and in print coming your way soon in MKE Lifestyle Magazine! Cheers! ????????Erol

Visit: https://www.heart.org/en/affiliates/wisconsin/