BEAUFORT ‘HEROES’ SHINE ON STAGE

The 4th Annual Dancing with Our Stars Fundraiser in Support of Child Abuse Prevention

story by KAREN SNYDER      photos by DORMANT GYPSY PHOTOGRAPHY

they come from all walks of life and professions: firefighting, law enforcement, education, and more. But on one exciting evening each year, 12 special individuals become dancing stars!
“We refer to them as ‘heroes’ of our community,” explains Child Abuse Prevention Association (CAPA) Director of Development Jessica Chapman about the hand-picked performers who are part of the organization’s popular annual fundraising event. “These are individuals who have dedicated themselves to the cause of child abuse prevention and who support CAPA or other similar efforts in our community that support children.”

This year’s Dancing with our Stars (DWOS) event, hosted by CAPA along with the Exchange Club of Beaufort and USCB Center for the Arts and presented by Hilton Head Buick GMC Cadillac will be held on March 14th at 7:30 PM, with a preview event held the evening before. Tickets to both 460-seat events sold out quickly; however, there’s still plenty of opportunity for local community support leading up to the evening performances.

CAPA invites Beaufort’s “heroes” to become DWOS competitors in what can only be described as a knock-on-your-door, sweepstakes-like approach. Once they accept the challenge, individuals are teamed with local dance instructors to begin the three-month process of choosing a dance style, learning choreography, and, of course, wowing the crowd with their performances!
CAPA’s Executive Director Christina Wilson describes the pairing process of the dance teams as a “magical system” that “just happens” as the roster of dancing teams is constructed then announced in early December. Just about every style of dance is performed from lyrical ballet, to tap, to jazz, and contemporary dance, such as Hip Hop.

Hosted for the first time in 2017, the success of this event has nearly doubled, reports Chapman, with net proceeds growing from close to $50,000 its first year to nearly $114,000 raised in 2019.
According to Chapman, each team has the goal of raising $10,000. Dancers compete in four award categories: Judge’s Choice, awarded to the team with the best performance; People’s Choice, awarded to the team that raises the most money; Alumni Choice, awarded by past team participants; and Best Costume.

“Every year, our People’s Choice team has exceeded our fundraising goal,” says Chapman. “The first year, the People’s Choice winners raised $12,000. In 2018, the winners raised more than $25,000. And, last year’s People’s Choice awardees raised $27,000.” But winners or not, Chapman is quick to point out the dedication and effort of each and every team in raising as many funds as possible to further CAPA’s work. “They are all stars in our book!”

Teams receive a sponsorship packet to solicit support and raise funds. “They sell everything from ads in our program, to raffle tickets, to kayak and fishing trips, to dog washing, to watch parties on the day of the event,” says Chapman. “They are very creative in how they raise funds from the community and area businesses who support them,” she admits.
“Each team also has its own webpage for quick and easy donations which can be found at the CAPA website at www.capabeaufort.org/DWOS. Just click on the team’s picture to donate. Every dollar raised by each team counts as one vote.” Chapman also encourages the community to follow the organization on social media and share CAPA’s posts in order to raise the most funds possible.

“Frankly, DWOS gives CAPA the freedom to do things that we could have never done before for the lucky children we serve,” explains Wilson about the importance of the event. “Funds from DWOS fill holes where we need it, such as general operations, trips in the summer, unexpected dental expenses, or driver’s education.” The goal, according to Wilson, is to give the children that CAPA serves, “the closest thing to a ‘normal’ childhood that we possibly can.”

Both Wilson’s and Chapman’s focus is not on the event itself, but the importance of the programs and services that CAPA has provided to more than 2,100 children who it has served in its safe house since its founding in 1985, and hundreds more who benefit from its many programs.

CAPA serves residents from Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, Allendale, and Colleton counties and operates the Open Arms Children’s Home in Beaufort County. It is available 24 hours a day, 365 days per year, for children from birth to 21 years old who have been removed due to an abusive or neglectful situation.

“Our mission is to break the cycle of child abuse and neglect by providing prevention and intervention services,” explains Chapman. “Through CAPA’s parenting classes and educational programs for grades K-5, our goal is to teach body awareness and safety, and to empower children to report abuse.”

Chapman explains that CAPA also serves as a licensed child placement agency to recruit, train, and support foster families. One recent focus of the organization is to work with children who “age out” of the system at age 18. Thousands of kids must leave the foster care system nationally once they reach 18. CAPA is working with youth, ages 18-21, to help equip them with life skills, job skills, and the opportunity to pursue an education.

“We want to do what we can to embrace children to help them start their lives off on a better foot,” she adds. “Some of the children we serve choose to live with us until age 21, so they have the opportunity to go to school or pursue a job.”

The Exchange Club of Beaufort shares a similar mission. Nationally, Exchange Clubs sponsor activities under the organization’s Programs of Service, which include Americanism, youth programs, and community service. Chapman, who is a member of the Exchange Club of Beaufort, says the organization’s National Project, the prevention of child abuse, clearly aligns with CAPA. “We’re proud to co-host this event along with the Exchange Club and the University of South Carolina, Center for the Arts, where our dancers shine on stage!”

Chapman goes on to say that, in fact, “it was an Exchange Club member who brought the idea of a ‘Dancing with the Stars’ style event to us four years ago. There were shelters in Georgia successfully hosting similar fundraisers. So, we did our research and decided to give it a try. We wanted an event this town would talk about days and days before it happened and days and days after.”

Chapman’s enthusiasm for the event and passion for CAPA’s work are evident. “It’s something our whole community can get behind. It’s about awareness of child abuse and prevention.”
Most important, the dancers and their instructors also are dedicated to this same mission, which, says Chapman, “is the reason they agree to compete.” Many of them are already involved in supporting children throughout our community, may have experienced childhood abuse themselves, or have been touched by other survivors.

“One of our instructors shared the reason for her participation was that she had an amazing childhood, and she wanted other children to have that same opportunity. Our instructors have a love for children and adults. They’ve told me that they love to share their passion for dance while teaching their adult partners and hope that it fills them with as much joy as it does for them.”
DWOS team members impress every year, learning dance techniques and practicing routines for several weeks before the event, and even making or acquiring their costumes that complement their dance, she adds.

“There are one or two rehearsals held where teams get to practice on stage,” she explains. “Then we run through the entire show once before the preview show.” Scoring by a panel of 3-4 judges doesn’t take place until after the main performance when a scorecard that evaluates technique, choreography, and execution is completed, and winners are announced.

In all, the dancers “put in some 200-300 volunteer hours between their efforts raising funds, and DWOS practices and rehearsals,” says Chapman, adding that it is their dedication that makes the event such a success.

“DWOS is so much more than a dance competition and a fundraiser. I call it a friend-raiser.” She admits, “With DWOS, we have no way to fail. It’s an amazing formula that works!”
To vote for your favorite team(s) through your donation, please visit the dancers’ web pages at www.capabeaufort.org/DWOS.