Queen of Hearts

Since 1964, the Queen of Hearts event has honored East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia high school ladies who campaign to raise money for the American Heart Association. The late Mr. & Mrs. Buddy Crump developed the concept in 1964 and it continues to be the longest running fundraising event. To date, well over 2.15 million dollars has been raised in the Tri-Cities area. Queen of Hearts has evolved from just being a fundraising campaign to a prestigious honor. The American Heart Association is looking for the "Leaders of Tomorrow". In working towards reaching their goals, these young ladies have experienced:

·         A chance to participate in a one-of-a-kind community service campaign.

·         Friendly Competition.

·         Business and educational opportunities.

·         A way to establish themselves as a future leader in the community

I was so honored to share my story at the ceremony. My grandfather survived a heart attack when my mother was my current age. It’s amazing to see how he has changed his lifestyle to become heart healthier, and I am proud to share that story.

Kaitlyn Hughes, a senior at John Battle High School, Bristol, VA, was crowned 2012 Queen of Hearts for having raised the most funds at $22,000! 9 young ladies from different area high schools raised a total of $103,000!

Amy Lynn-host of Daytime Tri-Cities, our local CBS affiliate, was our emcee! It’s always fun to be with her!

I couldn’t be more proud of these ladies! Congrats to the 2012 Queen of Hearts candidates for making a difference in our community and putting forth countless hours of service to the American Heart Association!

Jurnee Carr