Stepping Out For Education

We hope you will plan to join us for the 12^th annual Stepping Out for Education event, to be held on Friday, Oct. 14th, 7:30 pm, at the RP Funding Center!

Funds raised will be used to support the programs of the Polk Education Foundation, and, when used in certain target areas, we can get them matched dollar-for-dollar!

This year’s event will include the program and competition followed by a dessert bar and open dancing while votes are tallied.

For sponsorship information, click here.

Reservations taken here (No tickets will be issued, you will get a receipt when you make payment and stop in at the check-in table to get your seating assignment.)

Each couple will perform one dance to be judged by the audience, and, professional judges. The couple who raises the most funds will be named the People’s Choice Award Winner. The audience at the event will determine the Audience Favorite Award winner and the judges will decide a 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place winner.

Make People’s Choice votes here.

Celebrity Couples include:

Bob and Geri Tidwell – Badcock Home Furnishings & More, Haines City, and, The Red Geranium, Winter Haven

Marcus and LaQuitta Ghent – Duke Energy

Denise Bohde and Jennie Walker – 360 Perspective Partners, and, Citizens Bank & Trust

Milton and Kelly De La Cruz – Lakeland Homes & Realty, LLC, and, Mi Escuela Montessori

Jeremy and Tiffany Taylor – Tinsley Creative, and, Core & Main

The Dancing with the Stars type event was held on Oct. 20 and the five dancers on the roster along with sponsorships grossed $109,885! This is the 11th year of the event which was held at the RP Funding Center. Celebrity couples were:

Anthony Gordon and his daughter, Nickeysha Gordon – Jarrett Gordon Ford. They performed the slow foxtrot.
Tim & Jennifer Adams MacDougall – Bank of Central Florida. They performed the Quick Step, Triple Swing, Peabody, Pasa Doble, 4 count Swing Medley.
Tony & Adele Camarillo – RP Funding Center/City of Lakeland, Publix. They performed the Rumba, Argentine Tango and Bachata.
Brian & Danica Dockery – Point Doctors Credit Restoration, Kids Need Both, Inc. They performed the Merengue and Samba
Jonathan Sieg & Kate Wallace – Lakeland Leads. They performed the Country Two-Step and Salsa.
The Gordons, placed first, the Adams McDougall took second place and the Camarillos won third.

Adams MacDougall, who raised the most funds of the evening with $28,000, won the People’s Choice Award. The couple also won the Audience Favorite Award voted on by those who attended the event.

Event pictures may be found here.  They have been sorted by each couple’s name, those taken at the Step and Repeat back-drop, awards and general candids.

Platinum

Citizens Bank & Trust
Anonymous

Gold

Jarrett-Gordon Ford
Mr. & Mrs Howe and Jenny Wallace

Silver

AT&T
Bank of Central Florida
Duke Energy
Lakeland Electric
Lakeland Leads
Mosiac
Polk State College
Publix Super Markets Charities
TECCO
Tim & Jennifer Adams MacDougall

Bronze

Carambola Consulting
CEMEX
Clayton & Beverly Hollis
CPS Group CPA’s
CPS Investment Advisors
Heritage Group at Morgan Stanley
Maxcy Foundation
MIDFLORIDA Credit Union
Point Doctors
Rodda Construction
Tracy Mouncey & Associates
Saddle Creek
Badcock Furniture & More

Congratulations and thank you to all the celebrity dancers for another successful event!  With the help of professional coaches, each couple learned a dance to perform in front of event guests.  Each was critiqued by three judges who determined the dance competition winners.  Two additional awards were given, one to the couple voted “favorite” by the audience and the other for the couple who raised the most $1 votes.

The 2019 Stepping Out for Education champions were Nate and Chelsey Cruz, who performed a Rhythm Medley.

Second place –  Jason & Melissa Ash, who performed the American & Argentine Tango

Third place –  Gary & Jessica Solano, who performed a Salsa

Audience Favorite – Jonathan & Ashley Link, who performed the Cha Cha, Freestyle, and Hip Hop

People’s Choice Award – Jonathan & Ashley Link ($23,000!)

Other dances performed were by:
Drs. Douglas Gagnon & Carys Felton, who performed the Country Western two-step and

David & Shelly Braswell, who performed the Hustle and Nightclub two-step