Jax Dancing with the Stars Event Raises $150K for Jacksonville Children's Chorus

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - May 6, 2019 - PRLog -- The Jacksonville Children's Chorus (JCC) and A Social Affair Dance Studio hosted a Dancing with the Stars event with local celebrities to raise over $150,000 for scholarship, and program funding for the Jacksonville Children's Chorus.

The event featured local celebrities, supported by professional dancers from A Social Affair dance studio, and was held at the UNF Lazzara Performance Hall on Saturday, April 27th 2019.

The event was sponsored by One Digital, the Delores Barr Weaver Forever Event Fund, IMC, Otterson Allison Wealth Management Group of Raymond James, First Coast Infectious Disease Centers, HNI Healthcare, Firehouse Subs, Jacksonville Aviation Authority among many others.

Judging for the Showcase performances followed a similar format as the national television program, Dancing with the Stars, with the three judges using paddles for scoring, which contributed to 50% of the scoring and the other half coming from audience votes at the cost of $1 per vote.

The Jax DWTS top three celebrity winners Crystal Freed, managing partner of The Freed Firm, 1st place; Gisselle Carson, attorney and shareholder of Marks Gray, P.A., 2nd place; and Patty Otterson, owner of Otter Allison Wealth Management Group of Raymond James, 3rd place.

In a recorded interview, Crystal Freed talked about why she participated in the event.

"I decided to participate in this year's Jacksonville Dancing with the Stars because the JCC and it's mission really rings true to what I care about, and it's kids." Freed continued by saying, "It's giving kids hope. It's giving them an outlet, which I think is extraordinary."

The other local celebrity participants included Aidee Chavez Frescas of Be Mas Social; Dr. Aiham Al Ashhab of St. Vincent's Medical Center; Art Hooker of Go Executive Consulting; Donnie Horner, III of SeaBest Seafood; and student Sarah Miller, who stepped in for her injured mother Jeanne Miller of Jacksonville Civic Council, Inc.

The event emcees were Tenikka Hughes of Cox Media Group and Vic Micolucci of WJXT Channel 4. Judges for this event included 2017 event participant Paul Bertozzi of Live Oak Contracting; from Tampa, Florida, professional Ballroom dance champion and coach Timothy Mason; and All About Kids and Families Medical Center's Tracee Holzendorf, who placed second place in the 2017 competition.

Please visit the Jacksonville Children's Chorus Facebook page to see photos from the event.

For more information on JCC and our programs, please contact the Program Office at 904-353-1636 or visit our website at jaxchildrenschorus.org

About the Jacksonville Children's Chorus

The Jacksonville Children's Chorus was founded in 1995 by then Jacksonville University President, Dr. Francis B. Kinne to fill a need for a children's music program in Northeast Florida. Since its inception, the group grew from 16 voices to a membership of over 300 singers. Because music education is crucial to a child's development, the JCC offers partial or full scholarship to any child who wishes to sing, regardless of the family's ability to pay. The scholarship program is funded solely through donations and ensures diversity in membership. The JCC has developed into one of Jacksonville's most important providers of music education, enriching the lives of singers and audiences across the region.