The inaugural Stars & Steps dance event recently hosted by the Franciscan Health Foundation was a rousing success.

The event, held at the Long Center for Performing Arts in Lafayette, raised more than $40,000 and drew a crowd of more than 300.

“We are thrilled with how the inaugural Stars & Steps event turned out,” said Javan Greeson, executive director of the Franciscan Health Foundation – Western Indiana. “We had a great lineup of dancers and are grateful for how gracious everyone was with their time.”

Inspired by the excitement of celebrity dance competitions, local community leaders took the stage alongside dance professionals in a friendly competition.

The seven pairs of Stars and Pros who took part are as follows:

Pair 1: Dan Finn (Deacon at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church) and Rebecca Floyd (Owner, Dance Dynamics)

Pair 2: Tressa Heath (CPA and Owner of Heath CPA & Associates) and Randall Ferguson (Instructor with Dance Dynamics and with the Purdue University Latin and Ballroom Dance teams)

Pair 3: Mikel Berger (President and CEO of Greater Lafayette Commerce) and Brooke Hardebeck (Owner, Studio b)

Pair 4: Javan Greeson (Executive Director of the Franciscan Health Foundation – Western Indiana) and Grace Thieme (Creative Director for Stars & Steps and Dance Instructor and former USA Dance Ballroom National Champion)

Pair 5: Darrell Clase (Director, Tippecanoe Emergency Ambulance Service) and Kate Layman (Academic Advisor, Purdue University and Dance Instructor for Studio b)

Pair 6: Donna Beering (Captain for United Airlines) and Kieran Gleeson (Dances with Studio b and an Engineer for Caterpillar)

Pair 7: Alisha Kuckartz (Spanish & Multilingual English Teacher, Benton Central Jr.-Sr. High School) and Wendell Ferguson (Dance Instructor at Dance Dynamis and Premier DJ)

The Judge’s Choice for Best Dancer was awarded to Donna Beering and Kieran Gleeson, who danced the salsa.

The People’s Choice for Most Popular Dance was awarded to Mikel Berger and Brooke Hardebeck, who danced the jive.

The Top Fundraiser Award was given to Deacon Dan Finn, who raised $13,800 and danced with Becky Floyd.  

Proceeds from Stars & Steps will support Franciscan’s Community Health Improvement programs in Greater Lafayette and throughout Western Indiana. Among the programs receiving support are services for mothers and babies, including outpatient lactation courses, car seat safety events, infant safe sleep classes, diaper pantries, community baby showers and Fetal Infant Mortality Review (FIMR).

In addition, funds raised support programs focused on food insecurity efforts and nutritional education as well as general health education for CPR/first aid, AED distribution and education, and pipeline development for key healthcare career fields.

“Thank you to those who attended the event and we offer special thanks to our great sponsors as well,” Greeson said. “We learned a lot from this event and are already looking forward to next year.”