Residents Strap On Their Dancing Shoes To Benefit Local Children

To celebrate 80 years of helping less fortunate children, the Service League of Cherokee County next week will present its fifth annual Dancing For The Children Gala.

The gala will start at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 25 at the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Conference Center in Canton.

This year’s celebrity dance challenge will feature the talents of seven local celebrities who have each committed to train for the competition alongside a professional dance instructor. The winning couple will receive the mirror-ball trophy as well as the coveted title of 2015 “Dancing for the Children” champion. All proceeds from the fundraising event benefit less fortunate children throughout the county.

This year’s celebrity dancer and professional partner lineup includes:

• Zach Blend, executive director of Goshen Valley Boys Ranch with professional partner Karrie Mattice of Applause Conservatory;
• Daniel Espeut, CEO of Espeute Productions with professional partner Samantha Stone of Project SLIDE Dance Program for Kids and Teens;
• Bill Grant, president of Grant Design Collaborative with professional partner Christi Hinkley of Academy of Dance Arts;
• Susan McCarthy, assistant superintendent of educational programs at the Cherokee County School District with professional partner Timothy Meyers of Gotta Dance Atlanta;
• Gwen Parker, senior vice president and Cherokee County President of Renasant Bank with professional partner Wayne Zwick of Allure Dance Studio of Atlanta;
• Mandy Spell, owner of B.Loved Boutique with professional partner Brian Dixon of Planet Ballroom Johns Creek;
• Chuck Wilson, assistant principal at Creekview High School with professional partner Tracy Porter of Woodstock School of Ballet.

Read more about the celebrity dancers and their professional partners here.

In addition to the dance competition, guests at the event will also enjoy dinner and dancing. Seating is limited at this very popular and entertaining event. Tickets for general admission seating are $80 each. Reserved general seating tables for parties of 12 are $1,000 each and VIP tables located closest to the dance floor are $1,500 each.

The Service League is a volunteer group of 100 women who work year-round, collectively volunteering more than 10,000 hours per year to raise funds for local children.

Money raised by League events, such as the Riverfest Arts & Crafts Festival, the annual Run for the Children “Reindeer Run” 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run and the Annual Ball and “Dancing for the Children” Celebrity Dance Challenge, provide necessities such as food, clothing, dental care, eyeglasses, medical care, scholarships and much more.

Visit the organization’s website to find out more about the work it does in the community. For ticket inquiries, email Julie Pennington at julie.pennington76@yahoo.com.