Richmond Stars showcase their skills and raise $85,000 during Dancing with the Richmond Stars

The seventh annual Dancing with the Richmond Stars event was held March 10 at VCU’s W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts. Organized by the MCV Hospitals Auxiliary with presenting sponsor C&C Electrical Service, Inc., the event raised $85,000 to transform two MRI and CT rooms in the Children’s Pavilion at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU (CHoR) into calm and comforting spaces through the use of color and thematic design.

A committee of volunteers planned the event, which began in 2011 and has raised $614,385 since that time. Emceed by Juan Conde, anchor, ABC 8News, the evening featured 10 Richmond-area celebrities and their professional dance partners from Rigby’s Jig Dance Studio as they performed ballroom and Latin dance routines for 450 guests. Judges awarded prizes ranging from “Most Amazing Move” to “Most Entertaining” and also named a grand prize winner.

“The show spotlights stars from our community who want to do something for Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU,” said Karen Shudtz, event co-chair and a member of the MCV Hospitals Auxiliary and Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Senior Board. “All the stars are willing to step out of their comfort zone and learn a dance to benefit the kids.”

Dr. Danny Avula, with his partner Maria Vysotskaya, was this year's Grand Prize winner.

Congratulations to all our stars:

• Dr. Danny Avula, Director, Richmond City Health Department - Grand Prize Winner, Most Amazing Move
• Roseanne Biase, Director of Recruitment and Talent, Intercept Youth Services - Best Partnership
• Kym Grinnage, Vice President and General Manager, WWBT/NBC12 - Best Musicality
• ally Irizarry Hirsch, President, W. Hirsch Oriental Rugs - Fanciest Footwork
• Jeff Marks, General Manager, Promotional Considerations - Most Entertaining
• Dr. Bill Moskowitz, Vice Chairman, Department of Pediatrics, CHoR - Most Debonair
• Welsy Mourino, Co-Owner and Stylist, Elle Style Studio - Best Stage Presence
• Ken Powell, Senior Vice President of Wealth Management, Wells Fargo - Most Dramatic
• Tina Venuti, Community Volunteer - Most Graceful
• Ginny Wortham, First Vice President, Davenport & Company LLC - People's Choice Award Winner, Most Athletic

Ginny Wortham, with partner Tim Robertson, was this year's People's Choice Award winner.