“Dancing for the Stars” Raises Over $19,000
Wardlaw and
Miller Bring
Home the Gold
mrandolphadvance@gmail.com
The 12th annual “Dancing for the Stars” event was a huge success on Thursday, March 2, as over $19,000 was raised for the United Way of Toombs, Montgomery, and Wheeler Counties.
This year, scoring was based on a new formula – 60% of overall score came from the amount of money raised, while 40% of the score was based on the competitor’s dancing performance. Members of the public were also able to vote through online donations. These changes made the fundraising the focus of the event. Only $196 separated first and second place, but ultimately, it was Luther Wardlaw and Kylin Miller who brought home the gold. However, it is the charities funded through the local United Way organization that benefitted the most.
The night was an evening of food, fellowship, and fun, as the five couples took the stage during the competition hosted by Bill Torrance and Karon Durden. Judges Chris Keene, Diane Smith, and Craig Stuckless had a tough job as Nick Powell and Riley Corner started the competition off by dancing through the decades, and Charles “Tex” and Angela Lane heated up the dance floor with their entertaining performance. Wardlaw and Miller paid a tribute to the classic dance film Dirty Dancing, John Colby Thompson and Lily Williams reminded the audience of the wonders of young summer love, and Matt and Brianna Hasbrouck closed out the competition with some Latin flavor. “This is always a really fun night for our Power of the Purse members, and we are glad to be able to raise money through it for the United Way of Toombs, Montgomery, and Wheeler Counties,” local United Way Executive Director Patricia Dixon commented. “We call our event “Dancing for the Stars” because the real stars are the people in our local community who will be helped by the money raised by our talented dancers.”
This event is available annually to Power of the Purse members as a way to thank them for their contributions to United Way. Power of the Purse is a United Way women’s organization with members in Toombs, Montgomery and Wheeler counties. Each member contributes a minimum of $500 per year to United Way, with the goals of impacting the community to make it a better, stronger place to live, work and raise a family. The organization recognizes the key role of women in enhancing the quality of life in the tricounty area and works to inspire other women to give.
Current Power of the Purse committee members working on the event include “Dancing for the Stars” Chair Kelly Stuckless, Membership Chair Lucy Whigham, and Melissa Bruce, Karon Durden, Amy Gilles, Natosha Goss, Jordan Robins, Angela Combs, Linda Eason, Maria Gibase, Brianna Hasbrouck, Marsha Temples, and Amanda Higgins.
During the event, Dixon also publicly thanked the sponsors for their contributions, which ensured that no money raised from ticket sales or votes would have to be used for paying for the event. She also thanked Cal Berry, who has catered the event for several years, and plans to return next year to continue the tradition.
DFTS CHAMPIONS – Competition was stiff at the “Dancing for the Stars” event on Thursday, March 2, but ultimately, it was Luther Wardlaw and Kylin Miller who took home the gold. Here, they stand after being presented with the trophy, as their fellow competitors congratulate them. L to R: Brianna Hasbrouck, Miller, Wardlaw, and Charles “Tex” Lane.Photo by Makaylee Randolph
