Local leaders put on their dancing shoes for DLTS fundraiser




Left: Jamie Baczkowski was crowned the winner of the Big Bucks Award by former Dancing Like the Stars contestant Tiffany Bozovich at this year’s event. Right: Scott and Maura Mundell, winners of the People’s Choice Award, wore unique costumes on stage. Unable to see their faces while dancing, their costumes gave the fun illusion of dancing stick figures.

Left: Jamie Baczkowski was crowned the winner of the Big Bucks Award by former Dancing Like the Stars contestant Tiffany Bozovich at this year’s event. Right: Scott and Maura Mundell, winners of the People’s Choice Award, wore unique costumes on stage. Unable to see their faces while dancing, their costumes gave the fun illusion of dancing stick figures.

Saturday night it was lights, camera, action at the Blue Chip Stardust Event Center as local stars took the stage for the Duneland YMCA’s Dancing Like the Stars event. The prom themed evening was filled with sequins, tuxedos, movie references and even some plaid. After going virtual last year for both the dancing and silent auction portions of the evening, the YMCA and greater Duneland community rallied back with the biggest event to date with roughly 540 people in attendance.

“It feels fantastic,” exclaimed event chair Shannon Donnelly, who also serves as treasurer for the YMCA’s board of directors. “We’re just very happy to have it back at all, much less to see the success and support of the community rally behind such an important cause for Chesterton and the greater Duneland area is just wonderful. It’s very heartwarming and inspiring.”

Heartwarming, inspiring, and extremely entertaining. Jamie Baczkowski, creative display solutions provider with Trinity Displays, kicked off the evening with a rousing routine inspired by the movie “Back to the Future,” complete with a DeLorean. Leading the fundraising effort heading into the evening, Baczkowski was able to hold off the competition and take home the Big Bucks Award. Noting that each contestant is encouraged to raise at least $5,000, Baczkowski far exceeded that goal.

MANDI DUNLAP/photos

MANDI DUNLAP/photos

“I feel like I did a better job than I even thought I would,” said Baczkowski. “It was around $27,000 last I checked and that didn’t include anything that came through with votes tonight. Trinity added $5,000 this evening as well, which was so great!”

The next winning dancer of the night was Scott Mundell, administrative director of business development at Franciscan Alliance, who along with his wife Maura was the People’s Choice Award recipient. Dressed in black jumpsuits and adorned with glow sticks that gave off a stick person affect as they danced, the Mundells may have been grooving to the song “Dancing in the Dark,” but they received glowing reviews from those voting via donations both live and at home.

Taking us back to Rydell High, the “Grease” inspired performance from Vern Brown and Nikki Grass, co-owners of The Chesterton Brewery, was the crowd favorite. The duo brought home the Most Spirit Award, having fun while raising money for a good cause. MANDI DUNLAP/photo

Taking us back to Rydell High, the “Grease” inspired performance from Vern Brown and Nikki Grass, co-owners of The Chesterton Brewery, was the crowd favorite. The duo brought home the Most Spirit Award, having fun while raising money for a good cause. MANDI DUNLAP/photo

“It was great! Total surprise,” said Scott. “I’m really proud and can’t thank everyone that voted for us enough. What a great time!”

Not to be outdone, the winners of the Most Spirit Award were The Chesterton Brewery co-owners Vern Brown and Nikki Grass. Switching things up a bit, Grass came out on stage giving off major Kenickie, from the movie “Grease,” vibes. Brown joined her on stage wearing a very 1950’s inspired red and black polka dotted dress; think Rizzo. It did not take long for their hand jive to get the crowd roaring in both cheers and laughter, which the duo had said was their big goal in addition to fundraising.

“I just can’t believe it,” replied Brown when asked about their win. “The biggest thing is raising money. You know, Chesterton coming together and raising money for everybody. So having the honor to just be a part of that is really the biggest gift, the big prize.”

Jessica Amling, Zumba instructor at the Duneland YMCA, was the night’s big winner taking home the Judges Choice Award. Her circus themed routine featured back-up dancers dressed as a tiger and a clown, but the fierce routine was no laughing matter! MANDI DUNLAP/photo

Jessica Amling, Zumba instructor at the Duneland YMCA, was the night’s big winner taking home the Judges Choice Award. Her circus themed routine featured back-up dancers dressed as a tiger and a clown, but the fierce routine was no laughing matter! MANDI DUNLAP/photo

Closing out the evening and taking home the coveted Judges Choice Award was dancer Jessica Amling, who danced on behalf of the YMCA. Having previously stated that she was eager to perform on a stage again, the Zumba instructor used her rhythm skills to her advantage during her high energy circus themed routine to a compilation of music from Britney Spears. Choreographed by Hannah Roth, instructor at Dancebizz Centre for Dance, Amling credits her back-up dancers for helping her put on the winning performance.

“It was so much fun,” gushed Amling. “I couldn’t have asked for a better choreographer and a better group of girls to dance with. They really helped me pull it all together and we had a great time. What a blast! I loved being back on stage!”

Although Dancebizz has been committed to the event for several years, this was Roth’s first time being involved as a choreographer and she’s hoping it isn’t a one and done situation. Noting that while it was great to win, the experience as a whole was just as amazing.

“It was so fun,” said Roth. “Jessica and Jen both did an amazing job and they picked it all up really fast. We had great rehearsals. This was my first time and I’d love to do it again if they’d have me!”

The other dancers who rounded out the evening included Chesterton Fire Chief Eric Camel; Kristin Morris, director of Choral Music at CHS; and Rachel Mullins, chief operating officer at NorthShore Health. Putting on award worthy performances in their own right, it was clear that everyone involved in raising money for a good cause was walking away from the stage a winner.

“We raised net I believe over $85,000 after expenses,” reported Donnelly. “So with that we definitely grossed over $100,000. I’m very excited that all that money is going to stay in the Duneland community and go towards subsidies for people who need our services.”

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