Local food pantries & food programs encouraged to apply for funding from ‘Dancing with the Local Stars’ charity event

The Women’s Division Chamber of Commerce (WDCC) is encouraging local food pantries and food programs to submit applications that could land the groups funding from the 11th annual “Dancing with the Local Stars” charity event.

Pantries and programs in Muskegon, upper Ottawa and lower Oceana counties must apply by Feb. 14 to be considered for a financial reward from the popular event, which has raised about $923,000 for charity since its inception. Last year alone, the event landed $170,000 that went to 34 pantries and programs throughout the region.  This year, event organizers are aiming to break $1 million in overall fundraising.

“We are genuinely thankful that the community has continued to support and look forward to this fantastic event, which enables us to feed hungry families in the area,” said Dancing with the Local Stars Co-Chairwoman Mary Kendall. “They will not be disappointed this year as our brand-new cast aims to break the $1 million barrier.”

The 2019 event will feature 23 new “community stars” dancing with 10 professional dancers. [See more about the dancers in our previous coverage of this year’s event.] The identical performances will be held the evenings of Feb. 21, Feb. 22, and Feb. 23, with a matinee performance being offered Feb. 23. All of the performances will be held at the Holiday Inn & Conference Center in downtown Muskegon.

More than 400 attendees are expected to be in the audience for each show, and the event is a whirlwind of professional-level dancing, intricate costumes, and leaders who want to, once and for all, stamp out hunger in our area.

To apply for funds from the event, food pantries and food programs should fill out the WDCC Donation Request Form found on the home page at www.womensdivision.org. Completed applications must be submitted by Feb. 14 to the Women’s Division Chamber of Commerce, Ways & Means Committee, P.O. Box 1665, Muskegon, MI 49443. Donation recipients will be notified in April.

Dancing with the Local Stars is organized by the Women’s Division Chamber of Commerce, a 68-year-old nonprofit organization that works to support and champion the local community. More than 250 members partner on several annual fundraisers. In the past year, WDCC donated about $246,724 to local community projects and nonprofit organizations.

To purchase tickets to the Dancing with the Local Stars event, please call 231-798-4244. For more information, visit womensdivision.org.