April flowers may bring May flowers, but here in Norwood, April brings dancing! On Friday, April 8, six local residents will take to the ballroom in the 8th Annual Circle of Hope Dancing with the Norwood Stars fundraiser. This year’s contestants are Angela Malvone, Jay White, Nora-Jo Lydon, Joe DeVingo, Michael Kelley and Anna Fogg.
The dancers have made a substantial commitment for the past three months practicing with their professional partners from the Fred Astaire Dance studio, in Dedham. They will perform their numbers on Friday, April 8, at the Four Points by Sheraton, 1125 Boston-Providence Hgwy., in Norwood, at 7 p.m. Tickets are available for the live performance through Lee Kennedy at the Civic Center or by calling 781-762-3549. There will also be three satellite locations where viewers can watch the competition and submit their votes for their favorite competitor: the Old Colonial Cafe, on Nahatan St., Lewis’s Restaurant Bar & Grill, on Central St., and the Colonial House, on Savin Ave. Norwood’s independent station. Prefer to watch the action at home? NPA-TV will also be broadcasting the event live on local access stations!
During the past 90 days, the dancers have also been holding their own fundraisers to raise money for the organization. For each dollar donated, they receive a point which will be added to their dance scores. On performance night, two winners will be crowned: an Overall Winner for the person who raises the most money and the Judges Choice for the best single dance.
“The dancers raise money from people to donate, usually fundraisers, for example, dancing, raffles, auctions or a pancake breakfast,” Norwood Circle of Hope member Kathy St. Cyr said. “It’s up to their imagination.”
Last year, Massachusetts Representative John Rogers was named overall winner for raising the largest amount of money and Norwood elementary school teacher Maura Belanger was crowned the winner for her individual Jive dance. Last year’s event raised approximately $96,000 for the foundation.
The Dancing with the Norwood Stars event in the biggest fundraiser for the Norwood Circle of Hope Foundation, a local, all-volunteer organization that raises money for local residents who need financial assistance due to a catastrophic medical occurrence. The foundation was established in 1998 in memory of Michelle Kennedy, a young Norwood resident, who suffered with leukemia. During Michelle’s battle the entire Norwood community, many of whom did not know Michelle, joined together and it is in that spirit that the Norwood Circle of Hope Foundation plans to continue.
