Media stars, a mayor and other prominent community leaders are coming together for The Baddour Center’s first-ever Dancing For Our Stars fundraiser on Thursday, February 26, 2015. Modeled after the popular television show, Dancing With the Stars, the event pairs seasoned dancers with community leader “celebrities” for a competition to benefit The Baddour Center, a residential community for adults with intellectual disabilities. Dinner and drinks will be at 6 p.m. with the program beginning at 7 p.m. at First Choice Catering, 5905 Scott Blvd. in Horn Lake, Miss. First Choice Catering is also the presenting sponsor. The DeSoto Times and CLICK magazine and Anton Realty and Appraisals, Inc. are also sponsors. “This type of event has been successful in other cities,” said Ruth Ann Hale, director of development and public relations at The Baddour Center. “We want everyone to vote for their favorites.” Voting is open now at www.dancingforourstars.com for $1 per vote, and voting will also take place at the event. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Hale said she hopes this will become an annual event. Professional dancers from the area are being paired with celebrity dancers. The dance duos will be:
Joe Birch of WMC-TV with Paula Wyatt
Kendall Kirkham of WMC-TV with Jim Frommel
Hernando, Miss. Mayor Chip Johnson with Cat Woods
Jim Eikner of WKNO with Jane Riggen
John Woods of First Choice Catering with Jill Morris
Katharine Klunk of Varsity Spirit with Benji Smith
Michelle Barker Ford of The Cleaning Crew in Hernando with Ed Preston, and
Bill Haley , formerly of The Baddour Center, with Judy Cole
A featured dance duo consisting of Baddour residents will open the show. Tickets are $50 per person or $450 for a table of 10 and may be purchased at www.dancingforourstars.com or by calling Jenny Hurt at 662-366-6930.