On Saturday, March 1, a rollicking crowd of nearly 500 glamorous and generous guests packed Fremont Studios to cheer on their favorite celebrity dancers and give more than $522,000 to support the work of Plymouth Housing Group.
Plymouth’s annual gala, Seattle Dances!, raised more money than ever before and engaged a new set of donors and community champions in Plymouth’s work to end homelessness.
In recognition of their quiet dedication to ensuring that everyone in our community has a safe, healthy place to live, Blake and Molly Nordstrom were the evening’s honorees. They received a trophy crafted especially for them by a gifted Path with Art student artist and Plymouth resident.
Any diehard fan of TV’s “Dancing with the Stars” can understand why hundreds of people flock to this boisterously festive gala year after year.
And each year, some of Seattle’s bravest and most energetic luminaries step forward and offer to serve as the event’s ‘celebrity dancers.’ These folks rehearse like crazy (for months!), perfecting crowd-pleasing dances with their professional dance partners from Century Ballroom.
Here’s the dazzling roster of this year’s celebrity dancers and their professional dance partners from Century Ballroom:
Laura Bachman of The Bachman Group danced with Michael Darigol
Robin Chell of Robin Chell Design danced with Mark Kihara
Duell Fisher of Team Photogenic danced with Erica Atnip
Nesby Glasgow of The Pacific Institute & the NFL Players Association danced with Alison Cockrill
Carol Bailey Medwell of Integrative Family Law danced with Michael Cahn
Jane Nelson of Kantor Taylor Nelson Evatt and Decina danced with Jonathan Wingard-Phillips
Chris Schmaltz of UnitedHealthcare danced with Deron Hayes-Hirschy
Chad Zinda of Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty danced with Katie Lake
The celebrity dancers raised money for Plymouth by exhorting their “fan bases” to vote for them with monetary pledges online during the rehearsal phase and again in person on the night of the gala. At the end of the evening, three trophies were presented: the Judges’ Choice Award, the People’s Choice Award, and the Cyber Choice Award.
Check out the great stories by the Seattle Times’ Nicole Brodeur and by Puget Sound Business Journal’s Patti Payne.
Congratulations to this year’s winners!
Judges’ Choice Winners Laura Bachman & Michael Darigol:
People’s Choice Winners Carol Bailey Medwell and Michael Cahn:
and Cyber Choice Winners Chris Schmaltz and Deron Hayes-Hirschy!
Plymouth is grateful to each and every one of the dancers for the long months of rehearsal and the joyful exuberance they brought to the event.
Our sincere thanks also goes to event co-chairs Lynn Beck of Pine Street Group & Connie Blumenthal of Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty; emcees Patti Payne & Kevin Joyce; longstanding event partners Hallie Kuperman & Century Ballroom; and celebrity judges Nicole Brodeur, Seattle Times; Ali Brownrigg, Seattle Magazine; and Ed Murray, Mayor of Seattle.
A final standing ovation to the sponsors who made this memorable community celebration possible:
Gold Sponsors: JPMorgan Chase | Kantor Taylor Nelson Evatt & Decina | Marpac Construction | Vulcan Real Estate
Silver Sponsors: BECU | BNBuilders | Enterprise Community Investment | SMR Architects
Bronze Sponsor: Bank of America
Sequin Sponsor: Caesarstone | National Equity Fund
Media Sponsors: Puget Sound Business Journal | Seattle Magazine
In-Kind Sponsors: Fremont Studios | Kaspars Special Events and Catering | Angela Welsh Design | Team Photogenic | Fremont Mischief | Shake Bartenders | McCarthy & Schiering Wine Merchants | Uber
Save the Date!
Plymouth’s 6th annual Seattle Dances! will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2015.