Spotlight On Ellen Vild: A Young Professional Leading The Way For Heart Health In Delaware
Spotlight On Ellen Vild
Ellen Vild, the dynamic director of the 2025 Delaware Heart Ball, exemplifies the passion and purpose driving the mission of the American Heart Association (AHA). With an impressive start to her career, Ellen has seamlessly blended her dedication to community service with her role in advancing heart health. Under her leadership, the Delaware Heart Ball is poised to be an unforgettable evening of celebration, advocacy, and hope.
On May 2, 2025, at the iconic Hotel du Pont in Wilmington, the Delaware Heart Ball will bring together the community to reflect on the progress made in combating heart disease and stroke while inspiring further action. Ellen’s vision for this year’s event is rooted in her commitment to fostering harmony within the community—mirroring the four chambers of the heart: Equity, Knowledge, Discovery, and Advocacy.
Getting to know Ellen Vild
Ellen’s family history of both heart disease and stroke drives her passion to make a tangible difference in the health of our community. A graduate of The Ohio State University, Ellen majored in Religious Studies and minored in Nonprofit Management, earning her degree in May 2020. “Not the best time to graduate from college!” she jokes. “Go Bucks!”
Before joining the AHA, Ellen worked for the State of Delaware, organizing volunteers through the state’s RespondDE program, which supplements existing medical and public health staff to respond to public health emergencies. She joined the AHA 2.5 years ago as a development coordinator and has since risen to her current Development Director role.
When Ellen isn’t working, she enjoys relaxing at home with her standard poodle, Nacho, who she lovingly calls her “child.” Whether she’s watching reality TV, reading novels, or spending time with Nacho, Ellen’s downtime helps recharge her passion for making a difference.
A rising star in professional and community leadership
Ellen’s career journey is marked by her drive to create meaningful change. As a dedicated young professional, she has leveraged her leadership skills and innovative mindset to spearhead initiatives that promote health equity and awareness. Ellen’s role as Heart Ball Director is a natural extension of her passion for connecting people and resources to address critical health issues.
“The Delaware Heart Ball is more than just a gala; it’s a celebration of our community’s collective effort to bring health and hope to everyone, everywhere,” said Vild. “It’s about coming together to tackle the No. 1 and No. 5 killers in our community: heart disease and stroke. The event’s mission is deeply personal to me and reflects the AHA’s century-long commitment to saving lives.”
Delaware faces a significant challenge as it currently has the worst stroke mortality rate in the nation. The American Heart Association aims to shed light on this alarming statistic and galvanize the community into action. “We cannot accept this reality. The Delaware Heart Ball is a call to arms to fund research, advocate for better health policies, and educate our community to change this trajectory. We are proud to have a young leader like Ellen driving our campaign here in Delaware,” says Jim Murphy, Executive Director, American Heart Association, Delaware.
The Delaware Heart Ball: A celebration of year-round impact
The Heart Ball serves as the culmination of the AHA’s year-round Heart of Delaware campaign, which unites local corporate leaders and volunteers to address critical health challenges. For 100 years, the American Heart Association has continued to beat the drum of hope for a world free of cardiovascular disease and stroke. With a century of boots on the ground, the Association is driving change by removing barriers to health, investing in groundbreaking research, health education, and advocating for healthy policies. The heart of the American Heart Association is the people that touch our mission as a volunteer, patient, donor, clinician, researcher or scientist.
This year’s Heart Ball will be held on May 2, 2025, at the Hotel du Pont in Wilmington, and will include live and silent auctions, a cocktail hour, and a dinner program.
Through Ellen’s leadership, the Delaware Heart Ball aims to inspire attendees to continue supporting the AHA’s mission. “Our work goes beyond the ballroom” says Vild. “Everything we do at the Delaware Heart Ball translates into a meaningful difference in our community.”
Join us on May 2, 2025
The Delaware Heart Ball is not just a single night of elegance and celebration; it is a beacon of hope for the future of heart health. Ellen invites you to join her and the AHA in making an impact. Together, we can tackle critical health issues, fund groundbreaking research, and advocate for a world free of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities for the 2025 Delaware Heart Ball are now available. To learn more or to support this lifesaving mission, visit heart.org/delawarehb or contact Ellen Vild directly at [email protected].
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