Dance For Kids’ Sake Nets Nearly $70,000 For Big Brothers-Big Sisters of SCO
Presented by Hometown Motors, Inc.
For the first time in the 10 years of the event, Dance For Kids’ Sake fundraiser was held outdoors at Ohio University-Chillicothe.
Organizers moved the event to the parking lot of Shoemaker Center to offset holding it indoors due to the pandemic. Fortunately, the severe weather which had rolled through the Scioto Valley overnight had passed, creating the perfect setting for the night.
“I was up here at 5:30 this morning” said Board of Directors President Greg Woods told the audience. “Rain was moving sideways. I was speaking to a police officer working security for us and he asked ‘Are you really going to have this?’ and now look at it. It’s gorgeous!”
Dancers spent weeks preparing routines and raising funds to prepare for the event which generated an announced $67,000 for the mentoring agency.
“I’m just blown away by the generosity of our community” Executive Director Erin Allsop told Litter Media after the event. “I should know this by now because this is what our community does. Every single time, it’s like ‘Wow’ they just go above and beyond.”
Rhythmic Thunder was awarded the Children’s Champion presented to the dancer which raises the most money. The group was led by Dr. Reggina Yandila from Adena Health System. “I want to thank everyone who has helped by giving for our team” Yadila told the audience. “I know some of you did this for us, but it’s really for the kids. This is such a worthy cause.” Her team included Valerie Good, Katie Neal, Laura Adams and Ben Copher.
The Audience Choice award was given to Brad and Kelly Bigelow. Kelly, owner of Rustic Gals Boutique said she’d been approached to dance in the event before, but it was Brad who encouraged her to accept the invitation. Brad, a contractor by trade, did some remodeling inside the BBBSSCO office last summer. “When I saw the kids coming into the office and watch the ladies working with them, I knew we had to do this.”
The Judges Choice went to Marshall and Jade Berry. Marshall said participating was an easy decision because he benefitted from the agency as a child. He told the audience he personally knew the importance of the mentoring agency.
Other participants included Josh Tripp, Principal of Chillicothe Intermediate School; Johnathan Davis, Superintendent of Pickaway-Ross Career and Technology Center and his wife Kristen and Josie Vallette who learned last week she’d be performing in the place of Susie Webb & Allie Joseph. Webb was forced to withdraw from the event for health reasons.
For more details on volunteer opportunities with the agency, visit www.bbbssco.org or call 740-773-2447.
