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Whether you are a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother or sister — or don’t have any kids of your own — investing in local youth is a responsibility of the community. When the youths of a community thrive and succeed, the future of our city benefits.

Helping create future leaders is the Boys & Girls Clubs of Weld County. The organization hosts a variety of programs that foster leadership, self-confidence, education, diversity and individualism within by offering low-cost to no-cost programs.

Each year the Boys & Girls Club of Weld County hosts various fundraising events to help support its mission and the programs it provides to the community.

One of the organization’s more popular fundraising events is Dancing with the Weld County Stars. The event puts chosen participants’ determination, coordination and fundraising abilities to the test by challenging them to participate in a friendly, but competitive, dance performance while vying for donations.

The 3rd annual Dancing with the Weld County Stars is set to take place at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, July 20 at the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, 4747 Marketplace Drive in Johnstown.

“Last year we raised over $40,000 with a sold-out crowd of 175 people,” said Travis Hitt, vice president of Marketing for the organization. “This year we have expanded our seating and are hoping for over 200 people.”

Returning for a third time to the fundraising event is Nick Kenny. Kenny first became involved with the event as a judge. He then donned dancing shoes to compete in the event at the 2021 Dancing with the Weld County Stars, where he and his partner won for Best Performance. The CEO of the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra is getting his speaking voice warmed up to host the event.

“It’s a really incredible event and I love being involved with it. These are community people, homegrown people, representing a fulfilling cause,” Kenny said. “This year we really have some powerhouse people dancing. They are all putting it out there and taking a risk. I really love this event.”

Community members taking the stage this year are Elizabeth Faris, Lea Faulkner, Kelly Jackson, Trent Johnson, Paul Noffsinger, Dr. Deidre Pilch and Ryan Roth.

Stars can win for their performance and/or their fundraising efforts. Community members, family and friends can vote for their favorite star or stars with $1 equally one vote.

“The star with the most votes will be heavily favored to win going into the competition,” the event’s website states.

Elizabeth “Liz” Faris, the data services director at North Range Behavioral Health, will be representing the organization’s Teen Center at the event. Faris is working with an instructor from Okay…Let’s Dance out of Loveland for her choreography.

“I am a type of dancer that would be found in the kitchen,” Faris said, laughing. “I think for me, being able to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Weld County is integral in the work that we do in the county from and at behavioral health providers.”

Faris will be dancing alongside one of her close friends for a ballroom style performance.

“Just being given the opportunity to bring forward our personality and ability to have fun and participate in a really fun event are a few things I am looking forward in doing this,” she said.

Radio host of “Lea Live,” Lea Faulkner will be dancing for the Galeton Clubhouse. Faulkner has been paired up with local nonprofit Country Kickup.

“I am not an experienced dancer, but it’s a fun way to support the Boys & Girls Club of Weld County. I am proud to have a part in it,” Faulkner said. “If I can ride a donkey and get bucked off for a fundraiser, this is a breeze compared to that.”

Faulkner is dancing in honor of her late husband, Michael Faulkner, who was on the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Weld County for years.

“It was probably one of his most favorite boards. He loved working with the boys and girls. He said it was life changing and it was important to him,” Faulkner explained. “I felt like this would be a great way to honor him and honor the organization.”

Representing the Fort Lupton Clubhouse is Kelly Jackson. Jackson is the executive director of the Aims Community Foundation and spends her free time doing competitive ballroom dancing with her husband. Jackson will be challenging her dancing skills with her partner from the Colorado Dance Collective.

“My dance partner does a lot of different styles, so we will see what we come up with,” Jackson said. “It’s always nerve-wracking to go on stage. So I am just curious to see what he comes up with for our routine and style. I love high energy.”

Jackson was asked to participate in the event by Beryl Durazo, vice president for Advancement for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Weld County. Both supporters of local nonprofits and fellow Rotarians, Jackson and Durazo run in the same circles.

“I am really looking forward to generating audience participation. I love activating crowds and I am really excited to be able to do that,” Jackson said. “Being in higher education, I am always looking to see what we need to build for those who are looking to change the trajectory of their life based on certain circumstances. The Boys & Girls Club is a pathway to changing that through different opportunities.”

Greeley native, master magician, historian and storyteller Paul Noffsinger is joining up with the Colorado Dance Collective for his performance.

After being approached about participating in the fundraiser, Noffsinger called a close friend to run the idea past him.

“Thought about for about a day and then called my buddy Zeke, who is one of my best friends. I told him this was so out of my comfort zone and asked what he thought about it. I told him it was a fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club,” Noffsinger explained. “And he said, ‘I would not have had a hot meal when I was a kid had it not been for the Boys & Girls Club.’ He grew up in and out of foster homes and would stay at the club until he could go home and go to bed.

“So I said, ‘okay, I’m doing it. I’m absolutely doing it.’”

Noffsinger is representing the Madison Clubhouse for the event and will be showcasing a unique rendition of the story, “Little Red Riding Hood” —where Noffsinger will be Little Red Riding Hood and his petite partner will be portraying the wolf in their performance.

Dr. Deirdre Pilch, superintendent of Weld School District is representing the Pawl Clubhouse. Pilch has been paired with Country Kickup for her dance.

“I’ve been involved with the Boys & Girls Clubs for awhile now through my role as superintendent, so when Travis reached out, I said I would consider it. I talked it over with my team at the district and we felt it was a good time for me to do it and it is a good cause and organization, so I said yes,” Pilch said. “They didn’t have to work very hard to get me to say yes. I care a lot about what they do for the kids in the community, so if I can help, I’ll help.”

While Pilch was in theater in high school and college, she has never done anything with dancing.

“I feel pretty clumsy, but it’s going fine,” she said, laughing. “I’m with Country Kickup and they are great. They have been very gracious with my lack of skill.”

Ryan Roth will be dancing for the Art and Martie Barker Clubhouse. Roth, a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors, will be counting steps rather than numbers during his performance.

“It’s going to be awesome; it’s a good group this year. We are going to be raising a whole pile of money,” Roth said. “I had heard of the Boys & Girls Clubs on commercials. Beryl was my first introduction into what they do and my Rotary Club helped out packing Be Good boxes during COVID.

“The Boys & Girls Club isn’t just babysitting. The kids are engaged and doing things and the adults are there to help them with their homework and talk with them.”

Roth was originally slated to be a judge, however, after urging from friends, he signed on as a dancer.

“It’s silly and it’s fun and it’s way to make fun of Ryan— it’s all going to be great,” Roth said.

Last but not least, is Trent Johnson, owner of Greeley Hat Works. Johnson will be representing the Montfort Clubhouse.

“I can’t say no to the Boys & Girls Club, I couldn’t let the kids down, man. The Boys & Girls Club is a safe and healthy outlet for youngsters in our community. They learn how to work with other people from different backgrounds,” Johnson said. “Seeing the kids in the classrooms and on the playground and all that they are doing in the clubs, if we as adults did what these kids are doing, we’d all learn to get along so much better.”

While one would think Johnson would automatically be paired with the country dancers, the hat maker is working with the Just for Kix studio in Windsor. Trent will be dancing for the Monfort Clubhouse.

Trent was mum on details about his performance, but did say that he is going to be doing “awesome dancing and will be amazing.”

“Honestly, it’s a surprise,” he said. “It’s going good — my partner is amazing.”

The event is sponsored by Aims Community College, North Range Behavioral Health, SCHEELS Colorado and The Weld Trust.

The Candlelight Dinner Playhouse is the largest professional dinner theater in Colorado. The playhouse hosts a variety of musicals as well as performances from Grammy award-winning artists.

The playhouse’s menu boasts a selection of appetizers, entrees, desserts and drinks for adults and kids. Some of the menu items include shrimp cocktail, Parmesan crusted tilapia, grilled prime rib and lemon cream cake. At times, the playhouse changes the menu based on the show to add different drink and dessert specials.

The playhouse will be hosting a production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella,” beginning Thursday, July 7 and running through Sunday, Sept. 4.

The playhouse offers shows at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday as well as matinee shows at noon on Saturday and Sunday.

The playhouse is also available to rent for special events such as conferences and meetings.

For more information on upcoming shows, special events or the latest menu options, go to www.coloradocandlelight.com.

Tickets for the 3rd annual Dancing with the Weld County Stars are $50 for adults and $25 for children. Admission includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and one free drink for adults.

For more information about the 3rd annual Dancing with the Weld County Stars, to purchase tickets or to make a donation to your favorite star or stars, go to https://bit.ly/3bobz2i.

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