The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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  • Margaret O’Neal, executive director for the United Way, talks with most of the participants in the United Way’s Dancing with the Stars at Glade Springs Monday. Twelve couples will practice throughout the summer to prepare for the night of competition, slated to take place Sept. 14 at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center at 6 p.m. Chris Tilley

    dancing
June 20, 2012

Local celebrities pair up for United Way

By Kara Van Pelt Register-Herald Reporter

Twelve “local celebrities” nervously gathered at Bunker’s Sports Bar at The Resort at Glade Spring’s Tuesday to hear the long-awaited decision of coupledom for the inaugural year of Beckley’s own Dancing with the Stars competition.

Margaret O’Neal, executive director for United Way, said, “The organization’s goal, all along, was to have several, really nice, signature events that people could count on as a social events, but also as a substantial fundraiser,” she said.

“And I think this event will be perfect!”

All with proceeds of the Dancing event will benefit the United Way.

Tuesday’s celebration also served as an early kick-off to the 2012 campaign. And since the United Way goes big or goes home, O’Neal said, the campaign goal has been increased from $440,000 to $500,000 for the upcoming year.

Tuesday evening, the 12 individuals met their partners, were assigned a choreographer and started practicing for the main event slated for September.

Contestants and couples are: Richard Jarrell dancing with Megan Constantino; Bill Baker and Courtney Clark; Elmer Coppoolse and Patty Hylton; Jeff Miller and Mendy Harvey; Victor Flanagan and Kenette Coffman; and Mick Bates dancing with Kay Bess.

Each couple will be up for a mirrored ball trophy. Contestants can win the Judge’s Choice Award or People’s Choice Award by dancing the waltz, tango, foxtrot, cha-cha, quickstep, samba, rumba, paso doble, jive and swing.

O’Neal said each couple will be evaluated by a panel of three judges. O’Neal said if you want to help your favorite star win the “People’s Choice Award,” make a $5 donation to their team.

“Our stars have donated their time and energy to participate in this show,” O’Neal said. “We hope that you will remember the intent of their time and dedication to this event is to raise money for the United Way and the nonprofit agencies that we serve.”

Couples will now have practice throughout the summer preparing them for the night of competition, slated to take place Sept. 14 at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center at 6 p.m.

And there are a number of ways for everyday citizens and businesses to contribute to the cause, O’Neal explained.

“We have several different levels of sponsorship, along with individual tickets going for $75 a piece,” she said.

Seats are priced depending on distance from stage. For more information visit www.unitedwayswv.org., www.unitedwayswvstars.com, or call 304-253-2111.

— E-mail: kvanpelt@register-herald.com

 

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