Dancing with the Stars Austin Raises $1.8 Million for Child Abuse Victims

The 16th Annual Dancing with the Stars Austin, benefitting the Center for Child protection, was an unforgettable night for members of the Austin community who raised $1.8 million dollars in support of child abuse prevention and intervention services that help Travis County children.

The gala held at JW Marriott’s Grand Ballroom brought together Austin’s most dedicated philanthropists for an evening of exhilarating dance competitions, which culminated with the awarding of the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy for best performance. Event chairs Betsy Hudson and Stephanie O’Neill and the Dancing with the Stars Austin committee worked tirelessly to make the 16th year of this glittery soiree even more spectacular.

The dancing routines were led by a group of 11 celebrity dancers and their professional partners. Emcees Glenn Ball and Holly Mills-Gardner kept the crowd engaged while Judges Jeff Jumonville, Gary Little, and Becca Tobin added a hint of humor and exciting twists to the show with their commentary on the dancers’ performances.

All the musical numbers highlighted the hours of training each celebrity dancer dedicated over the past few months. After 11 routines, Liza Edebor & professional dancer Ferenc Kiss won the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy with “There’s Nothing Holding Me Back” and hold the title for 2022 Dancing with the Stars Austin Champions. Bridget Ramey & Tristan Reimann won second place with “Last Dance,” and in third place Kelsey Leigh Hughes & Nolan Whitely with their “Runaway Baby” routine. Other notable winners that night included Bill Bayless who won the Fundraising and Awareness Award, and Diego Fagúndez & Sasha Kurashko Hilss with the Dancer’s Choice Award.

All proceeds from the event benefit the Center for Child

Protection, an organization dedicated to reducing the trauma for children during the investigation and prosecution of crimes against children. To learn more, visit www. centerforchildprotection.org.