On the heels of their wildly successful 2014 Dancing with the Stars A Gala Benefit for ElderHouse, ElderHouse Adult Day Center is excited to announce a kick-off event for their 2015 Dancing with the Stars Gala Benefit to raise funds for ElderHouse. The Kick-Off will be held October 23, 2014 from 7:30 – 9:00 pm at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio, 314 Westport Ave in Norwalk, CT.
“At the Kick-Off our seven star dancers will all meet for the very first time and be introduced to their professional dance partners from the Fred Astaire Dance Studio,” says Denise Cesareo, executive director at ElderHouse, the Norwalk, CT-based non-profit adult day center. “The owners of Fred Astaire, Martin and Gina Goethche will welcome to their studio the members of the ElderHouse Board of Directors, Dancing with the Stars Benefit Committee members, the event judges and event MC, David Smith, as well as family and friends of our star dancers.”
Local Business Owners to Star
ElderHouse’s star dancers are all high-profile business and community leaders who, along with their professional partners, are generously giving of their time to prepare dance routines to be showcased at the Gala Benefit itself on Saturday, February 28th, 2015 at the Inn at Longshore, Westport, CT. They include: Tony Aitoro, owner of Aitoro Appliance; Sam Gault, owner of Gault Energy & Stone; Steve Simmons, partner & head of manager selection at Sideris Capital Partners; Terri Polley, President and CEO at Financial Accounting Foundation; Jayme Stevenson, 1st Selectman in Darien; Tina Dragone, owner of Tina Dragone; Jim Gardella, Director at Gardella Brothers, Rex Marine Center, Cove Marina. Tickets for the February gala go on sale January 1, 2015.
“We had a sold out crowd last year and raised more money than expected thanks to the kindness of participants and donors,” says Cesareo. “The event on February 28 will be a fun evening for all who attend…after months of practice, the dancers will perform their dances in front of a rousing audience and the event judges. Guests will be able to cheer on and vote for their favorite dancers. Funds will be raised through a star donor pledge site, ticket sales, on site voting, live auction and paddle raise.”
Supporting the 35-Year Mission of ElderHouse
Denise Caesareo and Nancy Romberg of Fairfield County Bank are the masterminds behind this largest fundraising event of the year for ElderHouse. For over 35 years ElderHouse has provided a unique brand of programs and services to thousands of seniors with age related disabilities and chronic illnesses in Darien, New Canaan, Norwalk, Weston, Westport and Wilton. Stats show their services have never been more needed than they are today. Every 72 seconds someone develops Alzheimer’s, a stroke occurs every 45 seconds and 40,000 people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s every year. As the boomer generation ages those numbers will only increase.
“I know and love what ElderHouse does,” says Romberg, who is also Chair for the event. “Denise and I got together last year and started to brainstorm about new ideas for fundraising (with an emphasis on F-U-N). We felt sure the business community in Fairfield County would embrace our idea and they did. 2014’s event was fun and fabulous. So much so that we are doing it again. Let the dancing begin!”
To add your name to the Elderhouse mailing list for tickets, or to donate to ElderHouse, visit www.elderhouse.org, or contact reception@elderhouse.org
About ElderHouse
Founded in 1977 ElderHouse Adult Day Center is one of the first adult day centers in Connecticut and a leader in providing community based geriatric care. ElderHouse is committed to providing aging seniors with a safe, nurturing environment where they can share time with others while receiving the care they need. Their accredited medical model program is designed to improve quality of life by helping seniors remain as independent as possible and to provide caregivers peace of mind.