The Phoenix Heart Ball is one of the oldest and most successful Heart Balls in the nation.

These four women are the new energy of the American Heart Association's black-tie fund-raiser, the Heart Ball:

Scottsdale mother and philanthropist Jaye Kruke Rich has dedicated her life to community service. Since she was a teenager, Jaye has volunteered countless hours to a number of local nonprofit organizations to promote the betterment of her community. "Growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio, my parents were involved in a lot of philanthropy" she says. "I learned from them about giving back to the community at a very early age and it is something that has always been important to me." Jaye has been a special projects volunteer for the American Heart Association's Heart Ball for three years and has chaired many other successful special projects in her service career. Included in her resume are posts at Las Palomas and the Teen Lifeline's Community Lifelife Award fund-raiser (she's now the vice president of the board of directors). Earlier this year, she served as co-chair of the Make-A-Wish Foundation's Wish Ball 2008. And if all of that wasn't enough, Jaye and her husband, Court, are expecting their second child this November. When asked what drives her endeavors, Jaye cites her love of helping people and doing good for her surroundings. "Volunteering is good for the soul...it is just a feel-good hobby," she says.

The founder and president of Haven Charitable Foundation, Kari Yatkowski is in her sixth year of service with the Heart Ball. With heart disease running rampant on both sides of her family, heart health and awareness is a cause that Yatkowski feels is in need of urgent attention. "Cardiac disease has affected my family for sure," says Yatkowski, who explains that her mother suffered from heart disease. "I am interested in impacting research", she adds. Yatkowski joined the Phoenix Heart Ball Committee in 2003 and has served on the hostess committee, acknowledgements and favors; helped launch Kids Ball; and chaired the 2007 Addressing Luncheon committee. Yatkowski was appointed vice chairman of the Phoenix Heart Ball for 2008. The mother of six is determined to make a difference with research, funding and education. "Our mission is to promote the ball, but also to increase awareness, Yatkowski says. "I feel really fortunate that I am able to give back."

For Carol Clemmensen, 2008 Heart Ball Addressing Luncheon committee member, volunteering was a practice learned from her father. The mother of two watched her father volunteer when she was younger and has been a contributing volunteer to various community organizations ever since. During her service, Carol has sat on various hospital and other philanthropic boards in both California and Arizona. Clemmensen, a resident of Paradise Valley, now serves on the board for the Arizona Science Center, the executive board for the parent's association of the Phoenix Country Day School, and Phoenix Children's Hospital.

New mother and small business owner Lauri Termansen is starting her first year of service with the American Heart Association by contributing as a part of the Heart Ball's donor relations committee. Lauri keeps busy running her own business and taking care of her 3-month-old daughter, Elsa (born on Father's day 2008), with her husband of 7 years, Eric Termansen, a commercial real estate company owner. In between all the excitement of being a new mom, Lauri's 9-year-old credit-card-processing business, based in New York City, requires her to travel to New York about once each month. In addition to her volunteer efforts with the Heart Ball, Lauri currently serves on the board of the Arizona Opera.

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