Jacksonville, Florida, September 11, 2006 -- In 2005, Patrons of the HeARTS was founded by pediatric cardiologist Jose Ettedgui, MD, and his wife, Hilda Ettedgui, to give artists and art lovers the opportunity to help children from underdeveloped countries with congenital heart disease.

The goal of Patrons of the HeARTS is to create an endowment fund to provide financial support for evaluation and treatment of these children, including open heart surgery, at Wolfson Children's Hospital (Wolfson), giving them the hope of a normal life.

To achieve this goal, a partnership developed between Wolfson, the University of Florida/Jacksonville (UF/Jacksonville) and Fogle Fine Art & Accessories, all located in Jacksonville, Florida. The inaugural 2005 event raised nearly $60,000. This allowed Aya Rbia from Morocco, Azad Khan and Tamim Sarwari from Afghanistan, Thomas Alvarado from Ecuador, Florence Ncube from Zimbabwe, and Kanye Lewis from Grenada to receive lifesaving heart care and surgery at Wolfson, thanks to Patrons of the HeARTS and its supporters. UF/Jacksonville pediatric heart specialists, including Dr. Ettedgui, provided medical and surgical care at no charge.

For the 2006 event, Fogle Fine Art and the artists will donate 100 percent of the proceeds from the art sale to the Patrons of the HeARTS Foundation. A jury of art professionals selected 25 works in a variety of media, including oil, watercolor, ceramic, photography, pencil drawings, glass, wood and stone sculpture. Artists from throughout the Southeast submitted works; chosen artists will include Maribel Angel, Linda Broadfoot, Nofa Dixon, Thomas Glover, Carole Mehrtens, Karin Olah, Jay Shoots and Larry Wilson.

Leigh Fogle, owner of the Fogle Fine Art gallery, states, "The name 'Patrons of the HeARTS' evolved as artists are typically supported by their patrons. In this foundation, it is the artists who are supporting the children in need through the donation of their work."

A limited-edition print giclee by John Bunker, "Angel of the Hearts," is available through the Patrons of the HeARTS website at Patrons of the Hearts or at Fogle Fine Art. All proceeds from the sale of the print will be donated to the foundation. The retail price of the print is $275 (unframed).

The 2006 event, named one of the "Parties of the Year" by Jacksonville magazine, will be held on Friday, October 6, at 6:30 p.m. at Fogle Fine Art & Accessories, 3312 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32207. It will include a sit-down dinner with international cuisine, live entertainment, music, and silent and live auctions. Tickets are $100 per person, with a $75 junior price (age 35 and under). Tickets are available at Patrons of the Hearts and at Fogle Fine Art & Accessories, 904.296.1414.