DANCING FOR DOLLARS

THE SHOW MUST GO ON

EVEN IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC, UNITED WAY OF GORDON COUNTY HOSTED THEIR ANNUAL FUNDRAISER, MOHAWK PRESENTS CALHOUN’S DANCING WITH THE STARS GETS SCHOOLED. HOW DID THEY PULL IT OFF?

Article by AMBER NAGLE and JONI HARBIN

Photography by ANDY BAXTER and others

As Covid-19 wreaked havoc on the economy and dropped a cloud of fear and uncertainty over the nation, schools, businesses, and nonprofit organizations closed their doors to protect students, employees, and clients. The world seemed to go quiet for a while. Like other charitable organizations, United Way of Gordon County was trying to find their footing amid the fog of the pandemic. Moreover, their signature fundraiser, Mohawk Presents Calhoun’s Dancing with the Stars Gets Schooled, was originally scheduled for late May.

“By late March, the students were already practicing their routines, most of their fundraising goals were met, and then lockdown happened,” says Jennifer Latour, Executive Director of United Way of Gordon County. “Events were ‘banned’ under the [Governor’s] Executive Order, so we made the decision to postpone the event to a later date.”

She notes that at the time, they did not know if the event would even happen in 2020. A planning committee had been hard at work for months putting the show together under the direction of Latour. She had formed a powerhouse committee consisting of local professionals who were fully committed to the success of the event including Andy Baxter with Andy Baxter Photography, Kristy Brown with Greater Community Bank, retired educator and fitness instructor Michelle Frix Ward, Joni Harbin with the Gordon County Chamber of Commerce and Calhoun-Gordon Council for a Literate Community, Bekah Kirby with United Way of Gordon County, and Dr. Amy Parker with Gordon County Schools.

OPPOSITE: Olivia Harbin poses with Joni Harbin in August at the live dancing competition event. The beloved mother/daughter duo were emcees for the event.

Several other professionals not on the planning committee shared their talents before and during the show. India Galyean, a Calhoun City Schools Chorus Instructor, assisted with ticketing and production details while Ben Riley, a Calhoun City Schools Special Education teacher, was responsible for sound and lighting. Joni Harbin returned as the event emcee, but this year she had a partner for the first time since the show debuted nine years ago. Olivia Harbin, a Client Manager for the Valent Group in Birmingham, joined her onstage and the duo added some mother-daughter banter to the script.

Ethan Crump lifts Meghan Young high in a lively dance routine at Mohawk Presents Calhoun’s Dancing With The Stars Gets Schooled in August. Crump and Young raised over $17,000 for United Way of Gordon County.

“As the summer waned on and new orders were released concerning events, we decided to move forward and rescheduled the live performance for August 8 at the Calhoun Performing Arts Center,” Latour continues. “We were anxious about the virus, but we felt that we could hold the event in a safe way. So we modified and adjusted the show until we checked off all the boxes under the standing Executive Order concerning events. We did not sell tickets to the public, and only allowed a maximum of 180 people in the venue, which, for perspective, can seat over 1,500 people. Sponsors and immediate family members were the only ones admitted to the show.”

After many weeks of practicing in private, Isaac Brackett and Aubrey Dorsey performed live in August at Calhoun Performing Arts Center and won the 1st Place Judges’ Choice Award.

The Judges’ Choice Winners are: Megan Wright, Jackson Murray, Isaac Brackett, Aubry Dorsey, Caitlyn Glaze and Hayes Carpenter.

The school marked off seats within the auditorium so that members in the audience were at least sixfeet apart. Volunteers handed out free masks to all attendees. The event did not include an intermission. Indeed, the lobby remained closed during the event.

In August, eighteen talented students (who had been practicing in private sessions in order to maintain social distance) took to the stage and danced their hearts out for a good cause — one that each of them believes in — in front of a not-so-packed house.

And the People’s Choice Winners are: Megan Wright, Jackson Murray, Ethan Crump, Meghan Young, Catherine Govignon, and Ben Bingham.

Listed alphabetically, this year’s dancers were Ben Bingham, Isaac Brackett, Hayes Carpenter, Ethan Crump, Jayce Derryberry, Aubrey Dorsey, Madeline Erwin, Caitlyn Glaze, Catherine Govignon, Will Holden, Marlee Jackson, Mariah Key, Aavyn Lee, Jackson Murray, Sierra Scott, Cameron West, Megan Wright, and Meghan Young. In consideration of health concerns and in order to maintain social distancing, they eliminated the group dance number. A panel of judges scored the dancers’ performances and scholarships were awarded to each student on the teams placing first, second, and third.

Judge’s Choice winners were: 1st Place: Aubry Dorsey and Isaac Brackett, who were each awarded a $1,000 scholarship. 2nd Place: Megan Wright and Jackson Murray, who were each awarded a $750 scholarship. 3rd Place: Caitlyn Glaze and Hayes Carpenter, who each received a $500 scholarship. The People’s Choice awards are given to recognize dancers who raise the most money.

This year, the People’s Choice awards went out to: 1st Place: Meghan Young and Ethan Crump, who raised an impressive $17,372. Both received a $1,000 scholarship. 2nd Place: Catherine Govignon and Ben Bingham, who raised the large sum of $11,356. Both received a $750 scholarship. 3rd Place: Megan Wright and Jackson Murray, who raised an astounding $10,556. Both were awarded a $500 scholarship.

“After the show, we dismissed audience members in sections to allow plenty of space between our guests,” Latour says. “Overall, we received outstanding feedback concerning safety, and gratitude from students and parents. They were so happy that they were able to participate in the event.”

A whopping $59,774 was raised for United Way and its partner agencies — another success, but this one in the year of COVID-19, when so many other organizations canceled their plans and fundraisers or attempted to raise money virtually.

“Yes, there were wrinkles to iron out, but we were determined to hold the event albeit a little differently than in years past,” says Latour. “Our greatest concern was for the safety of the community and the dancers, so we deferred to the state standards and recommendations in place at showtime.”

Because the students were not able to circulate throughout the community, their team fundraising efforts and agency visits were curtailed, but they developed successful campaigns on social media.

“United Way of Gordon County is very grateful to the eighteen students,” she says. “Our dancers demonstrated nothing but grace and resiliency as they cooperated with the DWTS Committee working to reschedule the show and propose changes to the format of the show. United Way is so thankful for the community’s continued support and patience as we tried to navigate event planning and fundraising during these unique and unprecedented times.”

Mohawk Presents Dancing with the Stars was created as a fundraiser to help supplement the organization’s annual workplace campaigns. This year’s show was the fourth student show, which spun off the adult version that ran for five years at the historic GEM Theatre. The pandemic has affected every aspect of life including local families’ needs for United Way services.

“Like many, we had to quickly shift gears to meet our community’s evolving needs by providing additional support both monetarily and in the form of Personal Protection Equipment, PPE,” Latour says. “Our community partners have continued to serve on the frontlines so that our children can stay connected to education; families can have access to food; and people can stay in their homes. The additional funds raised are already hard at work.”

Since April 2020, Latour reports that well over 488 people have received help with utilities, rent, food and COVID-19 related expenses. Last year, donations made through Workplace Campaigns helped over 24,000 lives in Gordon County.

As for the dancing fundraiser, all profits will be used to support the agencies operating under the United Way of Gordon County umbrella. Partner agencies include: Animal Rescue League of Northwest GA, Boys & Girls Club, Boy Scouts (Northwest Georgia Council), Calhoun - Gordon Council for a Literate Community, Calhoun Recreation Department, Camp New Adventure, Coulter Hampton Foundation, George Chambers Resource Center, Girls Scouts, Gordon County 4-H, Gordon County Domestic Violence Outreach Office, Gordon County Recreation Department, Gordon County Special Olympics, LEJO (Latinos for Education & Justice Organization), American Red Cross (Northwest Georgia Chapter), Prevent Child Abuse - Family Resource Center of Gordon County, Voluntary Action Center (VAC) and The Bridge, and The Winner’s Club.

The mission of United Way of Gordon County is to accurately assess the needs of Gordon County and to mobilize available resources to meet those needs. It serves as a referral source for the community.

Latour has some advice for other organizations wondering if they should cancel their fundraisers this year. “Don’t give up,” she says. “Have faith in your community. They’ll work with you. Just don’t give up.”

Bekah Kirby, Director of Community Relations and Accounting, poses with Jennifer Latour, Executive Director of United Way of Gordon County in August at their live fundraiser.