The Fort Vancouver National Trust announces ten local community leaders will take the stage to show off their best dance moves at Dancing with the Local Stars, a fundraiser for the Trust, on September 7th at 5 p.m. at The Hilton, located at 301 West 6th Street, Vancouver.
The event is the Trust’s primary fundraiser of the year, and was displaced after the National Park Service took over the operations of Pearson Air Museum in February 2013. Trust President and CEO Elson Strahan said, “the change in management at Pearson Air Museum effected dozens of community events and forced organizers to seek new venues and the Trust was no exception. We are very pleased to be working with the Hilton for what will be an outstanding event.”
Seeking a new event location, the Vancouver Hilton generously offered to partner with the Trust and accommodate the more than 500 anticipated attendees. Dancing with the Local Stars organizer, Alishia Topper, senior director of development for the Trust was concerned about budgetary constraints and potential increased costs with moving to a new location. “The Hilton was more than flexible and stepped forward to make sure this unanticipated location change would work within our budget,” said Topper “we couldn’t ask for a better community partner.”
General manager of the Vancouver Hilton, Eric Walters said, “The Hilton Vancouver Washington is pleased to partner with the Fort Vancouver Trust, as well as assisting with groups who were displaced when the National Park Service took over the operations at Pearson Air Museum. The Fort Vancouver Trust does many positive things for our community and we very much value the positive relationship we have with them. Of course, we are very excited to have this great event at the Hilton.”
2013 Dancing with the Local Stars Participants:
* Rob Cloke, Personal Trainer, NW Personal Training
* Jane Cook, Social Media Strategist
* Linda Glover, Executive Director, Gifts for Our Community/Divine Consign
* Amit Gosalia, Audiologist and President/Owner, Audiology Clinic, Inc.
* Bart Hansen, Vancouver City Council Member
* Amy Horn, Administrator/Manager, Congregation Kol Ami
* Jim Mains, Consultant, Community Connector, and Owner, Main Distinction
* Dellan Redjou, Owner, Smokey’s Pizza
* Robert Stewart, Investment Advisor, Columbia Credit Union
* Shannon A. Walker, President of the Southwest Washington Central Labor Council
Each dancer is paired with a professional dance instructor and will receive complimentary dance lessons from Arthur Murray Dance Studios. The Trust anticipates this year’s dancing event to be the most unpredictable and competitive to date. The star who raises the most money is crowned the dancing champion, thus the community is encouraged to “vote” with their dollars for their favorite dancer. Last year’s champion was Ed Barnes, chair of IBEW 48, who raised over $25,000. Donations are accepted online at www.fortvan.org/stars; by mailing a check to the Trust; or by donating at the event.
Doors open at 5pm with dinner service at 6pm.
Individual tickets are $50 and include a catered dinner, no-host bar and open seating. Reserved tables for ten cost $600, VIP Tables for ten are $1,000, and Sponsor Tables for 10 are $2,500 to $5,000. Tickets are available for purchase online www.fortvan.org/stars.
The evening’s program includes:
* 5 pm – Starlight Lounge opens
* 6 pm – Dinner served and dance competition begins
* 8:30 pm – Awards and open dance featuring the Pranksters Big Band
The 2013 Dancing with the Local Stars sponsors are Neil Jones Food Company, Waste Connections, Aevum Images, Arthur Murray Franchised Dance Studios RiverBend Productions and the Hilton.
