Stars Danced the Night Away to Benefit Children’s Hospital Foundation
Event raises $70,000 for the Child Protection Team with help from local celebrities
RICHMOND, Va. (April 5, 2012) – The second annual “Dancing with the Richmond Stars” event, held on March 16 at the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, raised $70,000 for Children’s Hospital Foundation during the evening performance and post party. Proceeds from this year’s event benefited the Child Protection Team at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, which provides care for children who are victims of abuse and neglect. The event was hosted by the MCV Hospitals Auxiliary and emceed by NBC12 meteorologist Andrew Freiden, with presenting sponsor C & C Electrical Service, Inc.
Based on the hit television show Dancing with the Stars, eight Richmond area business and community leaders partnered with local professional dancers to showcase dances including the hustle, rumba and swing before more than 400 audience members. The stars trained long and hard under the direction of Eleanor Robertson at Rigby’s Jig Dance Studio, who provided dance instruction, training space and professional dance partners.
MCV Hospitals Auxiliary members Karen Shudtz and Charlotte Roberts co-chaired the Dancing with the Richmond Stars committee.
“It was a fabulous evening, full of really great dancing,” said Roberts. “On behalf of the auxiliary and Children’s Hospital Foundation, I’d like to thank all the dancers, our sponsors and everyone who came to the show. What a wonderful night of entertainment for such a good cause. We’re already looking forward to next year!”
“The MCV Hospitals Auxiliary is so pleased to play a part in benefiting and celebrating all of the important work being done at Children’s Hospital of Richmond,” added Shudtz. “It’s important to all of us to do what we can to help continue to build a world class children’s hospital right here in central Virginia.”
The competition was judged by Jeannie Boiseneau, Mary Horton, Michael Scott and Jerry Williams. While all the dancers received kudos and awards, the top honor went to Leslie Wyatt, RN, MS, Vice President of Children’s Services and Executive Director of CHoR, for her spirited East Coast Swing.
“Dancing surely took me out of my comfort zone, but it turned out to be so much fun,” said Wyatt. “I always felt positive that I was giving of myself to benefit children and in particular the Child Protection program by participating as a dancer. This has been a great event for two years now, and we have the MCV Hospitals Auxiliary, Children’s Hospital Foundation, the terrific sponsors, Rigby’s Jig, the dancers and the spirited audience to thank.”
The line-up of the dancing stars included:
Heidi W. Abbott, Counsel, Hunton & Williams, who won the Most Stylish award
Lou Gambill, Co-owner, Fraîche on the Avenues, who won the Fanciest Footwork award
Reggie Gordon, CEO, American Red Cross, Virginia Capital Region, who won the Most Dramatic award
Martin Rubenstein, Owner, Martin Interior Design, who won the Most Entertaining award
Kat Simons, DJ, Lite 98, who won the Most Graceful award
Coleman “Coley” Wortham III, Chairman & CEO, Davenport & Company LLC, who won the People’s Choice award and the Most Athletic award
Dianne Harris Wright, Board Member, Massey Cancer Center & MCV Foundation, who won the Most Amazing Move award
Leslie G. Wyatt, RN, MS, Vice President of Children’s Services & Executive Director, Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, who won the Grand Prize and the Most Spirited award
Dancing with the Richmond Stars was made possible by presenting sponsor, C & C Electrical Service, Inc. Our sponsors also included: Communication Specialists, Inc., D & H Construction Services, Inc., MCV Foundation, Whole Foods Market, Acme Paper & Supply Co., Inc., Aramark, HKS Architects, Hunton & Williams, Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, Inc., MSG & Associates, Skanska, VCU and MCV Alumni Associations, Virginia Premier, W. Baxter Perkinson, Jr., DDS and Associates, Ltd., Cary Street Partners, Robin Foster, MD, Fraîche on the Avenues, Hospital Hospitality House, Johnny on the Spot Services, KOP Architects, NeighborCare, Jim & Charlotte Roberts, Signs Unlimited, Stericycle, and Three Bears Gift Shop.
