Sold Out Celebration - CASA Kane County’s First Dancing with the Local Stars Raises $65,000+
CASA Kane County's inaugural Dancing with the Local Stars was a dazzling success, bringing together 650 guests for a sold-out evening of entertainment, friendly competition, and philanthropy on Wednesday, October 7, at the historic Arcada Theatre in downtown St. Charles. The event raised more than $65,000 in support of CASA Kane County's mission to advocate for children who have experienced abuse or neglect.
Presented in partnership with The Dance Lab, the event featured 11 local celebrities who stepped outside their comfort zones, trading their everyday roles for dancing shoes and the spotlight. Each contestant was paired with a professional dancer, dedicating weeks to rehearsals in preparation for an night of performances.
The star-studded lineup also included Kane County's Chief Judge Robert Villa and Kane County Sheriff's Officer Gabe Perez along with President and CEO of Onesti Entertainment, Ron Onesti; Megan Elsberg of Parent Petroleum; former Olympic figure skater, Stefania Berton; Waubonsee Community College President, Dr. Brian Knetl; Nikki Nelson from St. Charles; Villa Verone Ristorante Italiano owner, Pietro Verone and Chris Wallace of @properties.
Cait Slomski, owner of True Knack Graphics, took home the Shining Star Award, (pictured far right) recognizing the contestant who raised the most money in support of CASA Kane County's mission. Denise Trimble, (pictured close right) an emergency room nurse with Northwestern Medicine, captured the Mirrorball Award, earning the highest overall performance score through judges' scoring and public voting.
Adding to the excitement was a distinguished panel of local judges representing six communities throughout the Fox Valley: Aurora Mayor John Laesch, St. Charles Mayor Clint Hull, Batavia Mayor Jeffrey Schielke, Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns, Carpentersville Village President John Skilman, and North Aurora Village President Mark Gaffino.
Beyond the performances, the evening was a powerful reminder of what can happen when a community comes together for a common cause.
"We could not have imagined a more incredible response to our inaugural event," said CASA Executive Director, Jim Di Ciaula. "To sell out the Arcada Theatre with 650 guests and raise more than $65,000 for the children we serve is truly remarkable. We are so grateful to our dancers, sponsors, volunteers, and everyone who embraced this event with such enthusiasm. It was an extraordinary night of entertainment, but more importantly, a wonderful demonstration of our community's commitment to making a difference in the lives of children."
About CASA Kane County
CASA Kane County is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven Guardian ad Litem organization dedicated to advocating for children who have experienced abuse or neglect and are involved in the Juvenile Court system. CASA recruits, trains, supervises, and provides ongoing support and education to dedicated CASA/GAL volunteers who serve as the voice of the child and the eyes and ears of the judge throughout their court cases.
These advocates work to ensure that each child's needs are heard, their best interests are represented, and they have the opportunity to grow up in a safe, nurturing, and permanent home. Proceeds from Dancing with the Local Stars directly support this important work, helping CASA continue providing consistent, compassionate advocacy for vulnerable children throughout Kane County.
For more information, visit www.casakanecounty.org.
Bonus Material!
Following the overwhelming success of its inaugural year, CASA Kane County is thrilled to announce that Dancing with the Local Stars will return on Wednesday, May 12, 2027!
Community members and businesses are encouraged to save the date and follow CASA Kane County on social media for exciting announcements, including opportunities to participate, sponsor, and support next year's event.
