DC’s Dancing Stars Gala Raises More Than $300K For Local Charities

From C.J. Coakley Company:

Washington, D.C. (November 8, 2016) – On Saturday, November 5, the third annual DC’s Dancing Stars Gala raised more than $300,000 for local charities. The event was hosted by Maria Coakley David and Jim David at the Sheraton Tyson’s Corner and featured 11 local Celebrities and 4 Corporate Challenge Dancers who have spent the past several months training for Saturday night’s performance. The winner of the Mirror Ball Trophy and $10,000 for her charity was Krystal Koons, spokeswoman for Jim Koons Automotive Group, who raised $115,320 in cash and sponsorships from more than 100 donors.

Global Art Advisor Marsha Ralls was the runner-up winning $5,000 for the charity of her choice. Kristy Kaufmann, executive director of Code of Support Foundation, was the winner of the Corporate Challenge. The Corporate Challenge winner was determined in the same way as the overall winner: 60% Judges Scores and 40% Funds Raised. Kristy raised over $40,000 and had one of the top scoring performances. Kaufman won $5,000 for the charity of her choice.

“This year’s event was a huge success. We were thrilled to raise our largest amount since the event’s inception in 2014, which brings our three-year total to more than $650,000 for worthy charities in the Washington, D.C. area, “said Maria Coakley David, CEO of C.J. Coakley Company and co-chair of DCs Dancing Stars Gala. “I am so proud of all our dancers – Celebrities and Corporate Challenge participants – who performed some fabulous dance routinesFriday night. My husband and I are avid dancers, and we love working with others to share the joy of dancing.”

Former House Majority Leader and U.S. Senator Robert Dole surprised attendees as a last-minute addition to the judging panel. Dole was joined by Chelsie Hightower, best known as a dancer, partner, trainer and choreographer for ABC’s hit show Dancing with the Stars, and Comcast Mid Atlantic’s Julie Donaldson. Emceeing the event were Larry Miller of WUSA9 and Fox5’s Laura Evans.

Local charities were beneficiaries of the event, such as: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Marymount University, Code of Support Foundation, Jennifer Bush Lawson Foundation and Operation Renewed Hope Foundation.

Image via C.J. Coakley Company