YMCA Dancing with The Woodlands Stars a spinning success

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- The Woodlands Family YMCA is excited to announce that more than $75,000 was raised on April 13 at the 5th annual YMCA Dancing with The Woodlands Stars held at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott. This event featured 12 local leaders as the live dance entertainment.

Each year, volunteers take to the dance floor to compete for votes and raise funds for The Woodlands Family YMCA. Every dollar raised from the purchase of tables, seats, auction items and votes goes to the YMCA Annual Campaign, which makes community-strengthening Y programs such as swim lessons, after school care and youth sports available to everyone regardless of age, income or background.

“Every dollar donated gets us closer to our total goal of $659,000,” said Roxanne Davis, YMCA Community Liaison and event director. We are very excited by the success of our fifth annual YMCA Dancing with The Woodlands Stars and extremely grateful to all of our sponsors, patrons and the generous community stars who stepped into the spotlight to make this fun and cause-driven event possible.”

The dancers who raised the most funds and took home top honors were:

• First Place Overall Winner: Marty Miller, representing Providence Title Company, and dance partner Mara Betancourt
• Runner Up: Carol Durkee, community volunteer, and dance partner Tony Smith
• Honorable Mention: Jenny Taylor, representing Market Street, and dance partner Tony Smith

The esteemed panel of judges featured Judy Olson, Bob Milner, Blair Adkins and Sandy Petermann-Williams, who selected the winners in the following categories.

• Best Use Of Music: Warner Van Stone and partner Monica Hernandez
• Crowd Pleaser: Dr. Marshal Guy and partner Irene Griffin
• Special Recognition: Natalia Arjona and partner Sebastian Gurevich
• Best Costume: Trey Diller and partner Larsha Rogers
• Judges Award: Becky Parsons and partner Robert Sherlock
• Most Enthusiastic: Margaret Cecil and partner Sebastian Gurevich
• Best Choreography: Kevin Bass and partner Larsha Rogers
• Most Entertaining: Christin Allphin and partner Robert Sherlock
• Most Creative: Keaton McDaniel and partner Patricia Rochester
• People’s Choice Award: Carol Durkee and partner Tony Smith

Patricia’s Dance Lessons Studio partnered with the Y to provide the dance partners, lessons and choreography for the community stars. Dana Tyson of Sunny 99.1 emceed for the evening, which included a live and silent auction and dinner.

Other highlights included a performance from YMCA Bright Life by dancers with special needs, a group dance performed by children enrolled in the YMCA Outreach program, and a Showcase of Stars from The Hustle and Salsa Houston team and Patricia’s Dance Lessons.

Sponsors for the event included Spirit of Texas Bank, Anadarko, Rowan Companies, C&G Boats, CHI St. Luke’s Health The Woodlands, Consolidated Communications, Diamond Offshore, Halliburton, RE/MAX The Woodlands & Spring, and Woodforest National Bank.

To learn more about the YMCA Annual Campaign, which ensures that everyone, regardless of age, income or background has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive at the Y, visit ymcahouston.org.

To become a sponsor or dancer at next year’s event visit ymcahouston.org/dancing-with- the-woodlands- stars/.