VERO BEACH – Dancing with Vero’s Stars, the popular and unique fundraising event of the Healthy Start Coalition of Indian River County, will be held again at the Waxlax Theater at St. Edwards School on the evening of Saturday, March 12. Now in its third year, the competition will feature an enjoyable evening of ballroom and star dancers going head to head for a chance at the illustrious mirror ball trophy. Nine local stars have teamed with area dancing professionals to hone their ballroom skills over the next few months in preparation for the philanthropic event. All of the instructors are generously donating more than 20 hours of dance and rehearsal training to benefit the contest as well as the mission of the IRC Healthy Start Coalition. Lending their time and talent to benefit the important work of the Healthy Start Coalition are:

Susan Clay, Vero Beach Dental Care, dancing with Joe Wynes, Independent Dance Instructor

David Croom, Founder/Croom Construction, dancing with Patti Rooney, Independent Dance Instructor

Bobby Guttridge, Trial Lawyer, dancing with Karren Walter, Certified Dance Instructor

Kenny Holmes, Defensive Coordinator VB High School, dancing with Beth Shestak, Riverside Children’s Theater

Dr. Juli Goldstein, FAU Faculty, dancing with James Martin, 14th Ave. Dance Studio

Jarrod Owen, Warren Insurance Services, dancing with Stephanie Conrado, 14th Ave. Dance Studio

Raquel Tilton, Hibiscus Children’s Village, dancing with Bob Scott, International Ballroom Champion

Patrick Toole, President and CEO of Patrick Toole Group, LLC, dancing with Shari Tessier, 14th Ave. Dance Studio

Judy Van Saun, Philanthropist, dancing with Joe Tessier, 14th Ave. Dance Studio.

A Grand Prize mirror-ball winner, runner up and third place winner will be determined from adding each star dancer’s fundraising score and final dance scores together – the final number will be split evenly between funds raised and judging.

Voting will be conducted in advance of the evening through purchase of tickets and via the event website, www.dancingwithverostars.com, as well as during the March 12 competition. Every dollar raised for a specific star will equate to a vote for that dancer. The evening is rooted in the desire to raise awareness, funding and support of the Healthy Start Coalition.

Tickets to the evening event are $100 per person, or $150 for reserved VIP seating, and can be purchased through star dancers, instructors, the Healthy Start Coalition or online.

Additionally, The Glimpse, a preview of its signature event to meet and party with Vero’s star dancers and instructors, will take place on Thursday, February 10 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Heritage Center in Vero Beach. Tickets to The Glimpse are $40 per person or $70 for two

The event is co-chaired by Joseph Robinson, Healthy Start Coalition Board Member and Realtor for Laurel Agency, Inc. Real Estate, and Rebecca Emmons, Grand Prize Winner of the 2010 DWVS competition and a partner at Stewart, Evans, Stewart and Emmons Attorneys At Law.

The Healthy Start Coalition of Indian River County is a 501c3 organization dedicated to establishing a system of care that guarantees all women and families, county-wide, have access to prenatal care, local resources and personal support services that promote normal growth and development. The programs run and operated by the Coalition work to ensure each child receives the best possible start in life.

For additional information call Executive Director Leslie Spurlock at 772-563-9118, or visit www.dancingwithverostars.com or www.irchealthystart.org.