The 麻豆原创 College of Nursing was one of four regional nursing programs to participate in the sixth annual 鈥淟et Us Entertain You鈥� dance challenge fundraiser held by Femmes de Coeur on Sunday, June 2 at the Ballroom at Church Street.
The event featured local celebrities and faculty members paired with professional dancers for a ballroom dance challenge. Funds were raised through ticket sales, live and silent auctions, and the 鈥淰ote with Your Dollars鈥� program, in which event attendees used money to vote for their favorite dance team.
Femmes de Coeur, or Women of Heart, is a nonprofit fundraising organization whose goal is to raise funds by partnering with existing organizations to help research and treat disease. The annual fundraiser was introduced six years ago by Femmes de Coeur President Judy Conrad.
鈥淚 decided to start the 鈥楲et Us Entertain You鈥� dance challenge fundraiser because it was a perfect way to integrate my desire to help the nursing community with my interest in ballroom dancing,鈥� said Conrad. 鈥淚鈥檓 really glad it鈥檚 been so successful.鈥�
Participants this year included talk show host Jada Collins, salon owner Dale Dees, chiropractic physician Dr. Richard Bocco, to name a few. One faculty member from each nursing program also participated in the dance challenge, including 麻豆原创鈥檚 Dr. Susan Chase, who is the associate dean of graduate affairs in the College of Nursing.
Although she and her partner, dance professional Tony Sterling, did not win the dance challenge, Chase feels it was worth her time and effort.
鈥淚t was a fun way to raise money for a very worthy cause,鈥� said Chase. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 do it to win. I did it to support our students.鈥�
Other participating nursing programs included those at Valencia College, Seminole State College, and Adventist University of Health Sciences.
The proceeds from the event will be divided among the four nursing programs and disbursed in the fall. At 麻豆原创, the funds support the Femmes de Coeur Endowed Nursing Scholarship.