6 Bucks County Community Leaders To Go 'Dancing For Bucks'

DOYLESTOWN, PA — Six community leaders will be burning up the dance floor later this week to raise funds for the nonprofit, independently run Ann Silverman Community Health Clinic.

For past few weeks, they have been taking dance lessons at the Fred Astaire Studio in Doylestown getting ready for "Dancing For Bucks," a gala evening that will take place on Friday evening, March 1 at The Warrington in Doylestown Township.

“It’s going to be a beautiful fusion of philanthropy and community partners coming together to have fun and fund raise,” said Meri L. Gaumond, executive director of the Silverman Community Health Clinic, which provides free medical and dental care, behavioral health and social services to low-income, uninsured residents of Bucks County.

Taking to the dance floor Friday night in a live streamed event will be Jeane Vidoni, the CEO and President of Penn Community Bank; Barbara Beans of the Fred Beans Auto Group; Dr. Kieran Cody, an orthopedic surgeon; Tom Seiler, a local investment manager; Pastor Thomas Rusert, lead pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Doylestown; and Sally Fabian-Oresic, former executive director of the Ann Silverman Community Health Clinic.

In preparation for Friday night's event, the dancers have been busy fundraising and practicing their dance moves hoping to blow the judges away with their dancing style.

In the lead up to the event, Gaumond is encouraging everyone in the community to vote for their favorite dancer by going online and making a donation underneath their names. “We have had people donate as little as $1 up to $5,000," said Gaumond.

Voting will continue up until the event on Friday night when the dancers are scheduled to take to the dance floor for what is expected to be a memorable night of supporting the Silverman clinic.

Organizers had originally set a goal of raising $100,000. They quickly surpassed that goal and are now nearing $200,000, enough to fund the clinic for four months.

“The six dancers, they are leaders in the community," said Gaumond. "They come in with experience, with passion, but also they are very competitive. We’re going to see a beautiful fusion of community leaders, private enterprise, donors, and dancing stars coming together to celebrate raising awareness for the clinic and generating funds. I can’t think of a better evening to spend as we exit winter and look forward to spring.”

While the community leaders are not professional dancers, in the weeks leading up to the event they have been training with the Fred Astaire Dance Studio, which has donated up to $10,000 worth of services for the event.

“The dancers had 10 lessons at Fred Astaire and will be ready to perform with a partner from the studio. They are just community leaders who believe in our clinic and who want to bring awareness," said Gaumond.

The special evening, which has been sold out for weeks, will open with a cocktail reception and art exhibit featuring the works of Bucks County artist Perry Milou who will be donating several pieces to the fundraiser.

“After that, the show begins. During the show the dancers will display their newly-acquired skills and they will be judged by our guest judges - professional ballroom dancer Tony Dovolani, former Philadelphia Eagle Vaughn Hebron, and Phillip Yang, founder and chief executive of Willowbridge Associates.

“They will judge the best dancer. We will also celebrate the dancer who has raised the most money. And at the end, the people will vote on the dancer they liked the most," said Gaumond. "It’s audience participation every step of the way."

At the conclusion of the evening, the gathering will celebrating Ann Silverman's 30th anniversary year with a cake.

“This is truly a celebration of what a community can do for the down and out, for people who don’t have insurance or are low income," said Gaumond.

The Ann Silverman Community Health Clinic provides free medical and dental care, behavioral health and social services to low-income, uninsured residents of Bucks County.

The clinic is made possible by volunteer physicians, dentists, nurses and support staff; by Doylestown Hospital, which contributes facilities, and other support services; and by generous donations from the community.

A youngster adds to a colorful mural at the clinic.