DC’s Dancing Stars Gala Raises Over $325,000 for Local Charities, Bringing Total Donations to Over $2,000,000.

Nov 20

What happens when dance, philanthropy, and community come together? The answer was clear at the seventh DC’s Dancing Stars Gala, where over $325,000 was donated to local charities bringing the event’s total contributions to more than $2,000,000 since its inception. The glamorous evening held November 9, 2024, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington D.C., featured a series of breathtaking performances by local celebrities, corporate dancers, and alumni, all coming together to support charitable causes close to their hearts.

Co-founded and co-chaired by Maria Coakley David, CEO and CFO of C.J. Coakley Co., Inc., and her husband, Jim David, the event brought together six local celebrities, five corporate dancers, and two alumni dancers who spent months fundraising and preparing for the competition. The funds raised will support a wide range of charitable organizations, impacting countless lives in the D.C. area.

In the celebrity competition, Marcia Davis, a model and former Miss Maryland, emerged as the winner, securing the prestigious Mirror Ball Trophy and a $10,000 donation for The Raymond A. Wood Foundation (RAWF). Davis raised more than $62,000 in the weeks leading up to the gala, and combined with funds raised by corporate dancer Dan Gradishar, the total contribution to RAWF for 2024 was $93,000. The Raymond A. Wood Foundation is dedicated to supporting survivors of rare brain tumors and their families.

Second place in the celebrity competition went to Chelsea Cooper Cushing, a nationally recognized choreographer and CEO of AF Talent Management. Cushing raised funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, earning $5,000 for her charity.

In the corporate competition, Janaki Kates, a former national security specialist and current consultant, took home first place after raising over $58,000 for the Jennifer Bush-Lawson Foundation, which provides support to families affected by pediatric cancer. Kates also won $10,000 for her charity of choice. Holly Cirrito, a philanthropist and supporter of education, earned second place and $5,000 for the Pamela Hendrix Center for Education Abroad at Clemson University.

The Gala’s coveted Judge’s Choice Award was won by Jessica Flaim, a nationally recognized fitness instructor and an IFBB pro bodybuilder who has competed in the Miss Olympia and the Arnold Classic.

The distinguished panel of judges included Christian Zimmerman, a former professional ballet dancer with a 22-year career, and Melanie Wilking-Ekeler, a dancer and influencer with over 20 years of experience. Chelsie Hightower, who is renowned for her work on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars and Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance, also returned for her sixth year as a Celebrity Judge.

The event was emceed by Julie Donaldson, former Washington Commanders executive gameday broadcast member, and award-winning sports anchor and former WUSA9 host Darren Haynes. Haynes surprised the audience with a recreation of his Judge’s Choice winning 2018 gala dance performance, adding another layer of fun and spontaneity to the evening.

The 2024 beneficiaries of DC’s Dancing Stars Gala include the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the Raymond A. Wood Foundation, the Jennifer Bush-Lawson Foundation, Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic, and the Pamela Hendrix Center for Education Abroad at Clemson University, as well as other charities chosen by the winners.

With over $2 MILLION DONATED OVER SEVEN YEARS, DC’s Dancing Stars Gala continues to be a testament to the power of community and dance, bringing people together to support causes that truly make a difference in the lives of many.