Dancing Stars Event Raises Over $18K for Charity

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Volunteer dancers recently competed to raise funds for the Northwood Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Stouffer Realty.

Funds raised by the foundation are pledged to various charities in western Pennsylvania and northeastern Ohio.

The Dancing Stars competition, which was held at the Slovene Center in Barberton, Ohio, on Feb. 24, raised more than $18,000 for charities, including the Ronald McDonald House, which was the primary recipient of the funds.

“It exceeded all my expectations,” said Michele Boyd, county regional manager of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Stouffer Realty Cuyahoga, owner and proprietor of the Slovene Center and an organizer of the event. “I’d like to thank all volunteers, dancers and judges who helped make this such an amazing event. I’m especially honored to assist the Ronald McDonald House charity, an organization that my family counted on years ago when our own son was ill.”

Boyd, along with her Stouffer Realty colleagues and co-organizers Robin Whitehair, branch manager, Salem, and Mandy Pajerski, Cuyahoga County regional sales director, sought the aid of professional dancers who partnered with and provided coaching to the amateur volunteers.

The dancing pairs were Emily Beck and Bruck Lukwinski; Arbutus Downing and Kobe Calain; Malinda Koncar and Dustin Jones; Cassie Karkan and Aaron Blizzard; Ruth McGraw and Mark Ilg; Kevin Leonard and Evgeniya Zyryanova; Kyle Thomas and Debbie Fleming; and Bernie and Lisa Stumpf. 

Judges for the event were Kelly Kuzemchak, director of First Impressions, Northwood Charitable Foundation; Aristea Tzouloufis, chief development officer for the Ronald McDonald Charities of Northeast Ohio; and Tony Sheppler, North American smooth champion, actor, teacher and coach.

“I was thrilled to participate in this particular charity event. As a father of young sons, charities that address the needs of children are of utmost importance to me,” said Kevin Leonard, president and COO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Stouffer Realty. “It’s a wonderful charity, and Michele, Robin and all the competitors and volunteers really came together to deliver a memorable experience and raise record dollars for the cause.”

Pictured at top: From left are Robin Whitehair, manager of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Stouffer Realty’s Salem office; Tom Hosack, president and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty & Stouffer Realty; Michele Boyd, manager of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Stouffer Realty’s Cuyahoga County regional office; and Aristea Tzouloufis, chief development officer for the Ronald McDonald Charities of Northeast Ohio.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.