Annual Fund Raiser Features Local Southwest Florida NBC, ABC and CBS News, Weather and Sports Anchors
Local 239 Media Celebs ‘Dance for The Cure’
The Southwest Florida Chapter of Susan G. Koman for the Cure raised over $625,000 in events leading up to and including the Race for the Cure, the 5K Run/Walk that’s held the second Saturday of March at the Coconut Point Mall in Estero.
As a prelude to the Race, the annual ‘Dancing Like the Stars’ competition was held Sunday March 3, 2013 and the Stars of Southwest Florida’s Network Media joined the Fort Myers Chapter of Fred Astaire Dance Studios to raise money for the fight against breast cancer in Naples.
Heather Turco and Robert Van Winkle of NBC-2 were the hosts for the evening which included dinner and a night of entertainment. Eight couples competed and four local media anchors and reporters from NBC, CBS and ABC affiliates and was hosted by . The Celebrity dancers were trained and anchored by Fred Astaire instructors and competition performers.
The event was held at the Hilton of Naples and the celebrities included Kelly Creswell of NBC-2, Allyson Rae of ABC-7, Stephanie Susskind of CBS-WINK-TV and Robert Burns of CBS-WINK-TV along Pamela Belford a local Interior designer, Frederick Blaze who owns a local Furniture business, hair stylist Louis Bruno and Craig Jones of Chico’s International.
Dave Elliott Radio talk show host of WGUF-FM 98.9 ‘ Naples Talk FM’ was one of the three judges along with Gayla Wright and Larry ‘Smokey’ Genta. Wright is the local sales manager for WBBH-TV as well as a Board Member of Susan G. Koman and ‘Smokey’ Genta, hosts and edits the Beverage Underground Network and 239Buzz.com.
The winning dance team was led by Robert Burns, the weekend sports anchor for WINK-TV, the local CBS affiliate and his partner Carly Ann Guerra who danced ‘Jive’ to Ray Charles’ song, ‘ Shake Your tail Feather’ . Burns had prior ballroom dancing experience and Guerra has been a part of the Ft. Myers Fred Astaire Dance Team for two and a half years.
Theo Derleth led the team of Fred Astaire Dance Professionals and was joined by Carly Goellner, Alexander Ivanov, Russell Perkins, Ioana Piscu, Lyndsay Ridenour, Stephan Zhivkov and Guerra.
A silent auction as well as raffles and a live auction by Paradise Jewelers for a diamond bracelet all contributed to the fund raising efforts coordinated by The Pink Ribbon Friends of Susan G. Komen.
Over 200 attended the cocktail party and dinner show and this year’s ‘Dancing Like the Stars’ event also featured award winning ventriloquist Chelsi Murphy and Friends, Entertainer Andy Spaulding and DJ Tony Jandoli.
