A Denver Broncos cheerleader, a makeup artist and the head of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce will be Dancing for the Youth at Goodwill on Oct. 8, joining seven others who hope to rumba, tango or cha-cha their way to the top of the leader board and waltz away with one of two prizes given at this fundraiser patterned after TV’s “Dancing With the Stars.”
The competitors — including Lindsay McBride, Michael Moore and Kelly Brough — were revealed at a cocktail party held at Scott Lynes’ home in Cherry Hills Village.
Chairwomen Roselyn Saunders and Carrie Mesch told the 125 guests that the dance card also includes Realtors Juanita Chacon and Judy Fahrenkrog, Delta Dental president Kate Paul, banker Jason Romero, developer Brent Snyder, newspaper executive Sharon Sweeney and former professional athlete Michael Ditchfield.
Miss Colorado International Tracy Register will open the show.
The hopefuls, Saunders noted, are being paired with professionals from Colorado Dancesport, and the rehearsals have already begun.
“It’s a lot harder than it looks,” confessed Sharon Sweeney, marketing vice president and co-owner of the Colorado Gambler and an advertising sales rep for The Villager newspaper. “I’m sore in places I didn’t know I could be sore.”
Judy Fahrenkrog, a broker associate with NorthCreek Properties, agreed. “I thought I had dance experience — until I went for my first lesson. I was a cheerleader at CU 40 years ago and did ballroom dancing at Denver Country Club, but, wow, I definitely have a lot to learn.”
“My husband is having so much fun with this; he’s really getting into it,” added Brent Snyder’s wife, Denise. “And he’s really good.”
Money raised goes to youth programs sponsored by Goodwill Industries of Denver. In addition to Saunders and Mesch, the benefit’s leadership team includes Dave Leonard (sponsorships), Sean Mc Nicholas (young professionals), Debi Tepper (silent auction) and Douglas Kerbs (logistics). Judges are dancer/choreographer Cleo Parker Robinson, theater bigwig Bob Garner and Terry Vitale, publisher of the sponsoring Colorado Expression magazine.
For additional information, call 303-650-7756.
It’s all about money.
Rose Youth Foundation has awarded $60,000 in grants, including $10,493 to the Denver Public Schools for programs relating to its student board of education and $6,737 to Mizel Arts and Culture Center to increase youth involvement in the 2011 Denver Jewish Film Festival. … USTA Colorado and the Colorado Youth Tennis Foundation announce that grants totaling $24,000 have been made to several community-based programs that promote tennis, including the Colorado Wheelchair Tennis Foundation and the Loveland-based Amazing Athletes of Colorado. … Jewish Family Service reports that its recent Executive Luncheon, featuring political satirist Christopher Buckley, brought in $159,300.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, and GetItWrite on Twitter
