Menu
DWOS goal is to help local charities
Although it's been a time commitment, contestants in "Dancing with Our Stars" say all the rehearsals have been worth it and they're looking forward to raising funds for local charities.
The second annual event, sponsored by the Fort Scott Rotary Club, is set for Saturday, Feb. 11, with performances at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the Fort Scott Community College campus, 2108 S. Horton.
Tickets may be purchased at the Country Cupboard, 12 N. Main, and the Gordon Parks Museum on the FSCC campus. All seats are reserved and ticket prices are $10. The evening performance has sold out, but the afternoon performance still has several seats available.
"This Rotary-sponsored event has two purposes," Chairperson Belynda Davenport said in a news release. "We want to build on the success of last year's event and present an entertaining program, and we also want to raise money for local and regional charities. Each dance couple is dancing for a specific charity and all of the money they raise will go to that organization."
Before the programs start and during intermission, audience members will be able to vote for their favorite dancers' charity by placing cash in fishbowls. Each charity will have a table located in the back part of the Ellis Center lobby. Each couple is dancing for a charity they have a special interest in -- whether as a board member or supporter.
Dr. Larry Seals and Nancy Pruitt are raising funds for the Mercy Health Center Foundation.
Founded in 1989 to secure the health care needs of Fort Scott residents, the Mercy Health Center Foundation most recently funded the relocation and expansion of the Mercy Cancer Care Unit of Hope. For more than 125 years, Mercy has been a part of this community, caring for people physically and spiritually, the release said.
"It's been fun," Seals said of his DWOS preparation. "It hasn't been as bad as we thought and we are blessed with a coach who at least knows what she's doing."
Chelsea Mitzner has been putting Pruitt and Seals through their paces leading up to the big day. "They were a handful, but a joy to work with," said 19-year-old Mitzner, who is on the FSCC dance team.
Last year's DWOS winning duo, Emmah Reeves and Thomas Nighswonger, will perform their winning dance, "The Time of My Life" from the film "Dirty Dancing."
"I find it very exciting," Nighswonger said, adding it's a second chance to right any imperfections of last year's performance. In 2011, he said, he was "really, really nervous," but this year, he plans to "come back and wow the crowd."
Bailey Gray and chiropractor David Miller will be tripping the light fantastic to "Footloose" from the film of the same name. They are dancing for the Fort Scott Skatepark. The Skatepark Committee recently secured funding to make the skatepark a reality. Committee members are dedicated to raising awareness, education and promotion of responsible skateboarding, with the ultimate goal of funding a skate park in Fort Scott, the release said.
"It's been a good experience. It's been a lot of work, but Dave and I are competitive," Gray said.
Like Seals and Pruitt, they, too, have a dance coach, Kristin Downing, who has made things easier. "It helps a lot (having Downing)," Gray said. "Dave and I probably wouldn't have choreographed something like this ourselves."
Other dancers and their charities include:
Stephanie George and Paul Wright, dancing for the Children's Miracle Network, which provides assistance to children from birth to 21 years of age in a 14-county area in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. All money raised stays local, helping children and their families.
Jo Byrnes and Paul Cook, dancing for The Lowell Milken Center. The LMC discovers, develops, and communicates the stories of unsung heroes who have made a profound and positive difference on the course of history. Founded in 2007, the center works with students and teachers locally and internationally to produce projects that introduce these heroes to the world.
Kelly Nelson and Larry Gazaway, dancing for CASA -- Court Appointed Special Advocate. CASA volunteers advocate for the safety and well-being of children who have been removed from their homes due to parental abuse or neglect. Last year, more than 70,900 CASA and guardian volunteers helped 237,000 abused and neglected children find safe, permanent homes nationwide.
Cindy Bartelsmeyer and Santos Manrique, dancing for the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation. Formed in 2007 to help worthwhile causes in the Fort Scott area, the interest from the foundation's permanently endowed fund has been used to award 26 grants to such nonprofit organizations as 4-H, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Mother to Mother, Tri-Valley Developmental Services and The Beacon.
Michelle Brittain and Blake Hudson, dancing for Big Brothers, Big Sisters, which makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers and children ages 5 through 18, developing positive relationships that have a direct and lasting effect on the lives of young people. The Bourbon County program currently serves 26 children.
Jamie Armstrong and Craig Campbell, dancing for The Good Neighbor Action Team. GNAT exists to encourage community pride through enhanced curb appeal and needed home projects for those with limited resources. In the five years GNAT has been in existence, the team and hundreds of volunteers have had the opportunity to provide improved living conditions for more than 60 households in the Fort Scott area.
Stacy Wunderly and Larry Davenport, dancing for Relay For Life, the signature fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. Last year in Bourbon County, the American Cancer Society provided services to 82 patients with 62 of them being newly diagnosed. The American Cancer Society is "the Official Sponsor of Birthdays," because creating a world with more birthdays will mean a world with less cancer.
Judy Davis and Mark McClure, dancing for the Medicalodges Activity Fund. This fund provides needed resources to enhance the lives of Medicalodges residents. Funds provide for activities, the purchase of equipment, special parties and entertainment, and other miscellaneous items.
Beth Nuss and Jared Martin, dancing for The Sharing Bucket, a non-profit organization that assists local cancer patients with such things as fuel, transportation, food, help with electric bills, etc. All money that is raised stays with local patients. The Sharing Bucket also provides emotional and financial assistance to cancer patients and their families.