10th and Final Dancing with Our Stars Campaign Raises Awareness for Local Services and $400,000+!

Posted in Uncategorized by

A star-studded event capped the 10th and Final Dancing with Our Stars for the American Red Cross campaign. Celebrities Peta Murgatroyd and Maks Chmerkovskiy joined the All-Star cast for a spectacular ballroom dancing show on Saturday, February 24, 2018 at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay. The amazing efforts of the star and professional dancers, sponsors and the community helped raise more than $400,000 to support local Red Cross programs and services.

Taking away the top honor for the Mirror Ball Fundraising Trophy was Team Schneider – Mary Gronnert & Paul Kardish. They raised more than $201,000.

The People’s Choice Champion Award went to Lisa Pritzl and Michael Witte for their dance to “Footloose.”  The People’s Choice Runner Up Award went to Dan Terrio and Mina Witte for their Contemporary routine to “Fix You.”

The Judges’ Choice Champion Award went to Anna Allen and Michael Witte for their Jitterbug to “You and Me and a Bottle Make Three Tonight.” The Judges’ Choice Runner Up Award went to Marty Williams and Heather Wudstrack for their Bolero to “So Soon.”

Thank you to our presenting sponsor, Schneider Foundation, as well as our other sponsors: Associated Bank; Bay Industries; BayTek Games; Belmark; Broadway Automotive; Festival Foods; Green Bay Packaging; Green Bay Packers; Hyatt Regency Green Bay; Jacks Maintenance; Khrome Agency; Kimberly-Clark; Rally Man Entertainment; Sanimax; Schneider Foundation; Simply Ballroom; Shift Visuals; Three Three Five and Wisconsin Public Service Foundation. We also thank our media partners of WBAY-TV2 and 101 WIXX for their promotional support.

Special thanks to Cami Rapson and Tammy Elliott of WBAY-TV 2 for serving as masters of ceremonies.

Thank you to all our star dancers for their time, commitment, energy and passion:

  • Anna Allen – Howard-Suamico School District
  • Chelsea Anderson – Community Volunteer
  • Billi Jo Baneck – Brown County Public Safety
  • Keith Cronin – Green Bay Packers
  • Kati Donaho – Hyatt
  • Mary Gronnert – Schneider Foundation
  • Paul Kardish – Schneider
  • Tracy Lemsky – Associated Bank
  • Emily Matesic – WBAY-TV 2
  • Zeb Metzler – Innovative Services
  • Bill McGlin – Shawano County Public Safety
  • Pam Niles – Bellin Health Generations
  • Lisa Pritzl – Prophit Marketing
  • Adam Rockman – Bellin Health
  • Grant Soletski – CrossFit Green Bay
  • Stacy Stecker – Associated Bank
  • Dan Terrio – UnitedHealthcare
  • Jody Weyers – American Red Cross
  • Marty Williams – Sierra Dental
  • Kelly Wolff – Kimberly-Clark, Aerial Dance Pole Exercise

Also, thank you to our pro dance partners:

Rane Cegelski from RS Ballroom Instruction; Terry Irwin and Angela Cervantes from TC Dance Club of Appleton; Charles Michaels from Arthur Murray School of Dance in Madison; Jay Morth from Ballroom by Jay; Heather Wudstrack from Get Out and Dance in Weston; Sara Baye, Michael Witte and Mina Witte from Simply Ballroom of Green Bay.

Thank you to the event committee, volunteers and most of all the community for supporting your local Red Cross.

Get to know DWOS Executive Producer: Shawn Kiser

Posted in Shawn Kiser by

After spending nearly two decades in radio and television, I challenged myself to make a bigger difference in this world and ventured into the non-profit sector.

This is my sixth year producing Dancing with Our Stars and I’ve developed many great relationships through this wonderful event. In addition to my DWOS duties, I also serve as the Development Director at Acts 1:8 Ministry where we share God’s love through Planned Acts of Christian Kindness. Faith, family and helping the less fortunate are my priorities and that’s providing me with a very blessed and fulfilled life! Thank you all for supporting this amazing group of community volunteers!

A quick trip down memory lane – I vividly remember a conversation I had with Donald Driver in December of 2012 in which I told him I wanted to do an all-star event for the 10th anniversary. Keep in mind DWOS wasn’t even five years old at that time! It’s cool to see it come to fruition although bittersweet since it doubles as the final chapter in this amazing story. Planning for this event began about two years ago. Let’s make it a grand finale!

 

 

Live Stream of Dancing with Our Stars

Posted in Dancing with Our Stars by

Thank you to our friends at Camera Corner Connecting Point, if you can’t make it to the big show in person, you can check out all the dancing action on our live video stream starting at 6:55pm on Saturday, February 24!

Click on the link to watch: https://livestream.com/cameracornergb/DWOS2018

Hollywood Star Powers Descend On Green Bay To Benefit American Red Cross

Posted in Dancing with Our Stars by

DWTS Peta Murgatroyd & Maksim Chmerkovskiy To Autograph Original Nicolosi Portrait at 10th and Final Dancing with our Stars Gala

Guests attending this Saturday’s 10th and final “Dancing with Our Stars” (aka DWOS) for the American Red Cross can win several prizes including an autographed piece of iconic American pop culture.

Frequently featured on Entertainment Tonight, Celebrity Artist Nicolosi has now been commissioned to create one of his signature style original mixed media acrylic on canvas masterpieces of professional ballroom dancers Peta Murgatroyd and Maksim Chmerkovskiy right here in Green Bay.

This original artwork was created exclusively for DWOS and will be unveiled & autographed live by Peta, Maks and Nicolosi. The retail gallery value of a Nicolosi original is $30,000.

This portrait will be unveiled & autographed by the trio on Friday night at a retro Disco Dance Party fundraiser (7pm-midnight). It is the featured “Super Star” item of a high-end raffle the following night at the traditional ballroom dance show. Both events will take place at the KI Convention Center in downtown Green Bay and will feature appearances by Peta and Maks.

Limited Edition Art Prints of the portrait (valued at $3,500 each) will also be on sale at a special charity benefit price of $500 apiece with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the American Red Cross. Each comes with it’s own Certificate of Authenticity.

These signed Art Prints will be on sale at the Gala and are now available for purchase online by clicking HERE.

Another big-ticket prize is a trip for two, including airfare and hotel accommodations, to the Monday, October 8th episode of “Dancing with the Stars” in Hollywood, California. Someone else will score two VIP tickets to the “Maks, Val & Peta Tour: Confidential” for Sunday, April 22nd in Chicago. Other prizes include dances with the celebrity couple.

While this is the first time Maks will be part of DWOS, it marks Peta’s third appearance as she previously participated as a celebrity judge in 2014 and 2015. Murgatroyd is well known for teaming with Green Bay Packers legend Donald Driver to win Season 14 of “Dancing with the Stars.”

People interested in purchasing tickets to either event should send an email to: redcrossdwos@gmail.com.

Billed as “Dancing with Our Stars 2018: All-Star Edition, presented by the Schneider Foundation”, local community members who participated in previous years are returning to once again be Star Dancers.

The goal of this final DWOS campaign is to raise $600,000. In its nine-year history, DWOS has raised more than $2 million. All funds raised support disaster prevention, preparation and relief, the life-saving training of first aid, CPR/AED classes, collection and testing of blood and blood products, support to military members serving around the globe and international programs.

Rane Cegelski, Ballroom by Jay, Simply Ballroom of Green Bay, TC Dance Club of Appleton, Arthur Murray Dance Centers of Madison and Get Out and Dance are the participating professional dance partners for the event. Associated Bank, Bay Industries, BayTek Games, Belmark, Broadway Automotive, Festival Foods, Green Bay Packaging, Green Bay Packers, Hyatt Regency Green Bay, Jack’s Maintenance, Khrome Agency, Kimberly-Clark, Plae Bistro, Rally Man Entertainment, Sanimax, Schneider, Shift Visuals, Simply Ballroom, Three Three Five, Wisconsin Public Service Foundation, WBAY-TV 2 and 101 WIXX are proud sponsors of Dancing with our Stars.

More event details can be found on the following Red Cross platforms:

Donation page: www.crowdrise.com/redcrossallstars

Dancing with Our Stars blog: http://redcrossdwosblog.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanredcrossnortheastwisconsinchapter/

Twitter: @redcrosswis

Use #RedCrossAllStars and #DWOS18 to join the conversation on social media!

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

 

Official 2018 Dancing with Our Stars for the American Red Cross Poster!

Posted in Dancing with Our Stars by

Join us in saluting this amazing team and our sponsors for their dedication to community service. Props also to Harle Photography LLC for designing yet another awesome poster. #DWOS18 #RedCrossAllStar

People interested in purchasing tickets to either the Friday, Feb 23 Disco Ball event or the Grand Event on Saturday, Feb 24 (limited seating available) should send an email to: redcrossdwos@gmail.com.

 

Get to Know Our Dance Pros: Simply Ballroom

Posted in Simply Ballroom by

Michael Witte

Michael Witte is a professional Ballroom, Latin, American Smooth and American Rhythm competitor, performer and instructor. His strengths lie in his outstanding teaching skills and unyielding passion for ballroom dancing. Michael has been in the dance industry for more than 10 years.

Michael started ballroom dancing as an Amateur dancer through the UWGB Ballroom Dance Club while attending UWGB as a swimmer. After winning several amateur titles, Michael opened up his own studio (Simply Ballroom).

As a professional dancer, Michael has performed at numerous ballroom dance competitions as a guest performer. Michael now is currently training to compete in American Rhythm and Smooth with his wife and co-owner of Simply Ballroom, Mina Witte. Michael wishes to “Bring light into people’s lives through the art of dance.”

 

Mina Witte 

Mina Witte is a professional American Smooth and American Rhythm competitor, performer and instructor. Her strengths lay in her attention to detail, technique and creating unique personalized choreography. Mina has been in the dance industry for more than 15 years. Her dancing knowledge spans from Ballroom Dancing, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary and Irish Step Dancing.

As a professional dancer, Mina has performed on international stages for Irish dancing and ballroom dancing. Mina has also performed with Gaelic Storm, Big Bad Voodoo Daddies , Paddygrass, Collin Dunne, and Anna Trebunskaya. As a professional competitor, Mina holds several Irish dance National and World titles, American Rhythm Championship titles as well as an Amateur 9 Dance Championship title.

Mina, co-owns Simply Ballroom with her husband, Michael Witte and December  3, 2017 they welcome their “itty bitty Witte” Ryker Daniel Witte. She encourages everyone to find their passion and to strive for greatness in that passion every day.

 

Sara Baye

Sara is the Director of Instrumental Music at Green Bay Southwest High School where she teaches 9-12 grade Band & Orchestra.  She began ballroom dancing ten years ago as a student at UW-Eau Claire and has been in love with it ever since! This is her sixth year with Simply Ballroom but her first in DWOS, and she can’t wait to be a part of this year’s event!