The Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Health Foundation is inviting the community to its first annual Have a Heart “Sweetheart Gala” on February 14 at the Hyatt Valencia.

“It will be a red carpet affair and we will also have surprise entertainment,” hinted Shelley Hann, co-chair of the gala along with her husband G. Marshall Hann. “On Valentine’s Day, it’s a little more difficult to get into our community’s very busy and wonderful restaurants. This event will assure community members a romantic, first-class evening to remember.”

The event will begin at 6 p.m. with cocktails and the romantic sounds of Robert Korda’s five strolling musicians. Cocktails will be followed by a gourmet dinner and dancing to the melodies of the 10-piece orchestra “Art Deco and His Society Orchestra.”

The evening will also include complimentary photos of guests and a mini-silent auction for a Swarovski crystal encrusted Kathrine Baumann evening bag, a silver heart and a fur from Edwards-Lowell of Beverly Hills.

The $150 per-person gala will be underwritten in its entirety by the event’s “sweetheart couple,” M. Jacqulyn Petersen, 77, and W. Harold Petersen, 78, married for 57 years. The couple has been sweethearts for 61 years. Since their wedding on April 23, 1949, the couple has added to their family size with four children, 10 grandchildren, one great grandson and another great grandchild on the way.

“I would like to see people who have been going to events like these  raise money for noble purposes, and do it in a way that will reward them with a nice romantic evening,’’ said W. Harold Petersen, the President of Petersen International Underwriters in Valencia. “It will be fun and it will pay homage to the idea of romance.”

All proceeds from the event will benefit Cardiac Care Services at the hospital.

M. Jacqulyn Petersen said she looked forward to the opportunity to be a “sweetheart” with her husband at the gala. “Harold is a real sweetheart,” M. Jacqulyn Petersen said. “On my 75th birthday, he honored me with a beautiful surprise party at the Hyatt Valencia in which the Grand Ballroom was decorated to resemble the world famous Coconut Grove Night Club.”

Sponsorship opportunities for a table of ten will start at $2,500 and will include $3,500, $5,000 and $10,000 opportunities. Program advertising is also available from $100 to $2,000.

For information about sponsorships for the event, please call (661) 253-8082 or visit www.henrymayo.com.

12-31-06