Erath County Big Brothers Big Sisters Executive Director Sarah Weaver reported that Erath raised $161,542.82 during the 2021 Dancing For the Stars fundraiser Thursday at Lone Star Arena.
The event gathers local celebrity couples to show off months of practice and footwork while gathering funds to support BBBS in its cause of building one-to-one mentoring relationships that promote mental health and well-being in children. They do this while raising donations to vie for the top prize. Teams this year staged routines from Broadway musicals.
The first prize team was Case and Emily Horton, who raised nearly $53,500 and did an active routine to a “sound of Music” medley.
Weaver thanked all the donors, dancers, judges, helpers and everyone else who gave so freely in making the event a success.
As a Dublin native, Weaver said she was happy to see Dublin represented by Zach and Mayra Hagood who kicked off the competition with a routine to “One Fine Day” from the Broadway musical.
Weaver said Dublin stepped up with more than $15,000 in direct donations from Dublin residents and businesses. This includes a Granny Clark’s fundraiser night in which $1,200 was raised after an anonymous donor matched what was raised.
The Hagoods reported having fun and enjoyed representing Dublin although the idea was definitely Mayra’s (For context, Zach chose “I Don’t Dance” as the song they danced to during their wedding.)
Weaver said BBBS is in need of mentors, particularly men who can donated 30 minutes per week to showing a local child they care. She is also aiming to get 50 monthly donors by the end of the year (with 20 signed up so far) to help maximize BBBS efforts. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/bbbserath/ or call (254) 918-7295.