Local ‘stars’ to dance in fundraising competition
From Staff Reports March 7, 2013 11:42AM
Vance Mabry and Barbara DeLaney perform at last year's Dancing With Our Local Stars. This year's competition, an annual fundraiser for Guardian Angel Community Services, will be April 13, 2013, at the grand ballroom at the Holiday Inn Joliet Conference Ce
Updated: April 9, 2013 11:03AM
Local celebrities will compete for the mirror ball trophy during Dancing With Our Local Stars competition, an annual fundraiser for Guardian Angel Community Services, to be held at 5:30 p.m. April 13 at the grand ballroom at the Holiday Inn Joliet Conference Center, 411 Jefferson St. in Joliet.
Proceeds benefit Guardian Angel Community Services’ seven core programs:
Groundwork domestic violence program, which provides an emergency shelter, crisis intervention, advocacy, counseling and prevention education.
Suzy’s Caring Place provides domestic violence transitional living.
Exchange Club Center offering counseling, parenting services and classes that assist at-risk children and families in the prevention of child abuse and neglect.
Sexual Assault Service Center providing crisis intervention, advocacy, counseling and prevention education.
Dillard Harris Educational Center an alternative school for students in grades 5-12.
Foster care program.
Partner Abuse Intervention Program.
Local celebrity dancers will be Julie Edwards of Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center, R. Dale Evans of Joliet Housing Authority, Grundy County Coroner John Callahan, Joliet Township Clerk Beth Ann May, John Block of Remco Medical and Kathy Pecora of Will County Land Use Department Resource Recovery & Energy Division and Heroes West.
These local celebrities will dance with professional dance instructors and compete in a ballroom dancing exhibition.
Judges will be Will County Executive Larry Walsh, Michael Murray of Riverstone Financial and 2012 celebrity dancer Suzanne Hart.
For the first time, the position of the fourth judge will be auctioned off before the performances begin. “Red carpet” reporters from WJOL will be Lynne Lichtenauer, Mary Lancaster and state Rep. Natalie Manley.
The masters of ceremony will be Grundy County Chamber Executive Director Caroline Portlock and WJOL morning show host Scott Slocum.
A four-course dinner, award presentations, raffle prizes, silent auction and dancing will follow the performance. Tickets are $125 per person. Call 815-729-0930, Ext. 423 to order event tickets or for more information.
Guardian Angel has been serving Will and Grundy counties for more than 115 years, and reached nearly 30,000 people last year alone.
