CIS crushes fundraising goal with “Dancing’ event
By ERIN ZUREICK
ezureick@sanfordherald.com
Aug 23,2009
SANFORD — It had been about 30 years since Wing Man Tam last danced, but that didn’t stop him from signing up this summer for Dancing with the Lee County Stars — and it didn’t stop him and partner Karla Koballa from winning the competition’s coveted mirror ball trophy.
“I really enjoyed it,” Tam said after collecting his prize for a shag routine. “It shows how much the community comes together. I played a very small part.”
The event, hosted by Communities in Schools of Lee County at the Dennis Wicker Civic Center, sold out all 700 of its tickets. It was patterned after ABC’s hit television show, “Dancing with the Stars,” which pairs celebrity couples with trained dancers for a competition.
The winner among 15 Lee County couples was determined by total fundraising. Tam and Koballa netted about $7,500.
CIS raised nearly $58,000 total, an important sum since the organization was close to closing its doors earlier this year. The nonprofit raises money for education programs such as BackPack Pals, e-mentoring, LEGO robotics and a teacher resource room.
“When we started this, we had to decide whether to do a fundraiser this year or shut our doors,” CIS Board of Directors Chairwoman Kim Pritt told the audience. “Thanks to you we are able to stay open another year. I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”
Tickets were purchased for $50 in advance, and buyers could designate then who their votes would go to. Votes also could be bought for $10 each at the event.
Some contestants were not beyond a little gamesmanship to try and get audience members to reach into their pockets.
After performing an upbeat number to Michael Jackson’s “Beat It,” Central Carolina Community College instructor Carl Bryan and Kelly’s Dance teacher Dana Slate were challenged for $200 to dance on a table.
The two were also the only pair of the night to garner a perfect score of 30, with a 10 from each judge. They also won the night’s artistic prize and came in fourth for fundraising.
“I’m was ecstatic,” Slate said afterward. “We had a lot of fun together.”
Bryan said the two only practiced four times.
“She could teach a rock to dance,” he said. “There was a good chemistry and a good click throughout the whole thing.”
Miss North Carolina 2009 Katherine Southard also participated with Liberty University student Matt LaSasso. Earlier in the day, she toured Central Carolina Hospital.
A dance major in college, Southard said the two practiced their tango three times. She added she enjoys getting to tour the state doing charitable work.
“I love it. I really do,” she said. “To get to do benefits like this all year long is really wonderful.”
Second-place overall winners were Dana Atkins, of DWA Photography, and Gregg Hamm, owner of Cafe 121 and Lee County Schools teacher.
Third-place was Toni Davenport, of J.T. Davenport and Sons, and David Morse, of Sports World.
Koballa said she and Tam practiced about twice a week. She has been shagging for 14 years.
“I’m just thrilled,” Koballa said. “Wing Man is popular. People love him. He is very personable.”
CIS Program Coordinator Laura Biediger said she was happy with how the fundraiser turned out.
“I thought I would feel really tired right now, but I’m running on adrenaline,” she said.
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