October 24, 2025

By Lane Kimble

As soon as the signed number 10 jersey came out, the auction paddles started flying.

All you need is Love to open your heart–and your pocketbook–after all.

More than 40 bids came in on the framed Jordan Love memorabilia at the American Heart Association’s “Hard Hats with Heart” event Thursday night in Madison.

The fundraiser celebrated its 10th year, making the Love jersey an all-the-more-fitting way to close out the live auction.

“The work we do here really does save lives,” co-chair Suzanne Doody with Vierbicher said.  “Every dollar that we raise tonight helps give someone a second chance.”

More than 100 people attended the evening’s festivities, hosted in an airplane hangar at the Dane County Regional Airport.

“Hard Hats” raises money to support blood pressure checks, stress management guidance, and hands-only CPR training for construction companies across Dane County and south-central Wisconsin.

The construction industry is especially impacted by heart disease, where one in four employees have high blood pressure, one in three use tobacco, and more than half don’t get enough exercise.

“Heart health and mental wellbeing aren’t just nice to have, they are a super critical part of job site safety,” emcee Pablo Iglesias told the crowd.

The auction raised an unofficial total of nearly $19,000. That’s money local AHA leaders aim to put toward a lofty goal: making sure at least one person in every home in Dane County is trained in CPR by 2030.

“When (a heart attack) happens it’s most likely going to be someone you know, someone you love, someone who’s standing right next to you on the jobsite,” Doody said. “That’s what keeps me showing up and why I’m committed to pushing for more.”

WTBA and the Walbec Group were among dozens of sponsors joining presenting sponsor JT Engineering in putting on the event. Executive Director Steve Baas and Communications Director Lane Kimble attended the event, with Kimble volunteering as event photographer.