Dancing with the Silver Stars, a popular event that pairs local corporate and civic leaders with professional dancers in high-energy routines, is back for a third edition. The event, presented by Alacare Home Health & Hospice and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, takes place on Monday, Nov. 5, 2012, at 6 p.m. at The Club. Funds raised will support the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Acute Care for Elders (ACE) Unit in its effort to provide holistic care to aging adults.
The 26-bed ACE Unit at UAB Highlands hospital — the only one its kind in Alabama — provides hospitalized older adults with geriatric-focused care. Patients are admitted to the unit with a wide range of diagnoses and are surrounded by a team of professionals trained to meet their specific needs. The facility is designed to help patients stay mentally sharp, comfortable, and safe for as long as possible.
Dancing with the Silver Stars, Season 3, will help the ACE Unit continue its efforts to make an impact on the lives of older adults. This year, the spirited celebration of aging includes the following local celebrity dancers:
- Gail Andrews, Birmingham Museum of Art
- Ray Jordan, Flowerbuds
- Bobby Horton, Three on a String
- Dianne Mooney, Community Volunteer
- Helen Crow Pittman, Crow Real Estate
- Dr. Billy Lapidus, Trinity and Brookwood Medical Centers
Fabian and Jackie Sanchez, owners of the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Hoover, will dance with of each of the local star dancers. Fabian is a veteran of the hit ABC show “Dancing with the Stars” who competed with actress Marlee Matlin in the program’s sixth season.
In addition to the star-studded dance routines by local celebrity dancers, attendees will enjoy special entertainment by the Birmingham Sugar Babies, a dancing group of ladies ranging in age from 53 to 72 years. The event also includes a cocktail reception and dinner.
The event emcee is Robert Earl Kelly of Kelly Construction Company.
The planning committee for Dancing with the Silver Stars, Season 3, includes:
- Jan D. Hunter, Co-Chair
- Esther Schuster, LCSW, Co-Chair
- Sally Hawley
- Jerry LaSuer
- Betty McMahon
- Sandy Tilt
The 2011 Dancing with the Silver Stars event raised $96,000 to support the UAB Center for Aging and specific program needs, including assistive hearing devices for geriatric patients seen by UAB doctors, expansion of the Alzheimer Family Program for caregivers, undergraduate and graduate scholarships for students pursuing mentored research in aging, faculty training in geriatrics and new faculty recruitment. Support for this year’s event will make a tremendous impact on UAB’s efforts to help older adults maintain health, function and well-being through the ACE Unit.
Dancing with the Silver Stars, Season 3, is open to the public. Individual tickets are $125 each; after Oct. 19, prices rise to $150 per person. Special table ticket prices are also available. For ticket information, contact Jo Self at joself@uab.edu or 205-975-5659.