Sue Loughlin
The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE —
A former Colts cheerleader, an Indiana State Police officer and a funeral home owner are among the 13 celebrities participating in the 2010 “Dancing with the Terre Haute Stars,” a CHANCES for Indiana Youth fundraiser.
This year’s lineup includes Yasenka Peterson, Indiana State University; Natalie Overton, ServPro; Barbara Baker, Regional Hospital; Janet Van DeWinkle, WTWO; Gary Greiner, Greiner Funeral Home;
Dr. Randy Stevens, Union Hospital; Teresa Shaffer, Clabber Girl; Bill Kauffman, First Financial Bank; Holly Pies, Vigo County School Corp.; Renee Bauer, Harsha Behavioral Center; Christa Pierce, Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin; Joe Watts, Indiana State Police; and Jeff Millington, Pepsi.
CHANCES announced this year’s dancers during a luncheon Monday at Terre Haute Regional Hospital. The fourth annual Dancing with the Terre Haute Stars will take place Oct. 1 at Hulman Center. The event is a spinoff of the hit television show “Dancing with the Stars.”
The event keeps getting bigger and bigger, said Brandon Halleck, CHANCES executive director. Last year, it grossed $75,000 – $25,000 more than the year before – and about 700 people attended. The event sold out and “we expect it to sell out again this year … It’s an event that everyone enjoys.”
It’s also “extremely important” in helping CHANCES raise money, he said, especially with the current economy and funding cutbacks at the state level.
Halleck said determining the winner of Dancing with the Terre Haute Stars is based on whoever raises the most money, not dancing ability. “We have this fear no one would sign up if it was based on talent,” Halleck said.
Participants receive 10 free dancing lessons with a professional through The Dance Studio.
“Everybody has done a wonderful job over the years. It’s really amazing how much they can do over the course of 10 hours [of lessons],” he said.
Among the 2010 dancing stars is Pierce, who used to be cheerleader for the Indianapolis Colts from 2003-06. She was nominated by a co-worker at Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin.
“I love to dance and I’m very excited about it,” she said. As a former Colts cheerleader, she’s used to dancing in front of big crowds.
Watts, of the Indiana State Police, said a representative of CHANCES asked him to participate. “I said sure, as long as you’re not expecting a lot of dancing. One thing I’m not is a dancer,” he said.
A dancing professional will teach him the steps and guide him through the process. “I’m glad to help out,” he said. Watts said he is a little nervous, but he also believes it could be fun learning something new.
Greiner, owner of Greiner Funeral Home, said he attended the fundraising event last year and “caught the bug.” He volunteered to participate.
“I have a little bit of theater background … I’m very excited,” Greiner said.
Peterson, chairwoman of ISU’s health, safety and environmental health sciences department, said Dancing with the Terre Haute Stars will be a new experience for her, but it’s for a good cause. CHANCES “does wonderful things for children,” she said.
Pies, a curriculum coordinator with the school district, said, “It’s a good opportunity to help an organization that has done so much for our kids in this community.”
The Oct. 1 event is presented by CHANCES and First Financial Bank. Doors open at 6 p.m., dinner will be served at 7 p.m. and dancing begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $55 and can be reserved by calling CHANCES for Indiana Youth at (812) 232-5190.
Other sponsors include Vectren, Indiana State University, ServPro, Terre Haute Regional Hospital, WTWO, Lamar, Time Warner Media Sales, WBOW, Greiner Funeral Home, Baesler’s Market, Clabber Girl, Union Hospital, Harsha Behavior Center, Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin, The Dance Studio, Mann Law Firm, Ballyhoo Pizza King, Hamilton Center, CASY, Pepsi, ISU Credit Union, Garmong, MTS Digital and Simply Decadent.
CHANCES for Indiana Youth, which serves a 12-county region, is a nonprofit agency operated out of the Booker T. Washington Center that aims to keep youth away from drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.
