Maks is Coming Back!

Check out our site at www.DancingWithTheStarsChattanooga.com for information on the return of Maksim Chmerkovskiy!

If you missed Maks at our DWTSC event on June 26th, then you'll be happy to know he is returning to Chattanooga for a private performance on Saturday, August 20th. Check out the site for more information!

Verizon Wireless Holds School Supply Drive

If you live in Athens, TN and are anywhere near the Decatur Place Verizon Wireless store this weekend, make sure to stop by and donate a few school supplies. Verizon is holding a supply drive for Partnership children from August 1st through the 14th to help them get ready for back to school.

We parents know how expensive back to school can be. Between the back to school clothes, backpack, school fees and supplies - it's a wonder we're not all completely broke. The children living in Partnership shelters, such as our domestic violence shelter or our youth group home for boys, can't always afford the luxury of new back to school items. That's where you can help.

Download a flyer at our website and help spread the word. Then make sure to add a few extra pencils and notebooks to your weekend shopping list! It really will be appreciated.

Walk A Mile In Her Shoes-Are YOU man enough?

On April 16th, 2011, men from all over Chattanooga will literally walk one mile in women's red high-heeled shoes through Coolidge Park. This is a protest for rape, sexual assault and gender violence. Everyone is able to walk. This can include student groups, church groups, and men from all walks of life are scheduled to march. The proceeds from sponsored walkers will benefit Partnership's Sexual Assault Center violence preventions efforts and rape services in the Greater Chattanooga Area. This is a light hearted way to discuss the issue of rape and sexualized violence in our community.

Registration will be available online at http://www.walkamilechatt.com/ and is $25 for men, $10 for women and children 12 and under are free. Shoe rental is additional $5. Men will receive a free, commemorative t-shirt with registration and they will also be available for purchase at the event. For more information, call Partnership at (423) 697-3827. Learn more about the international movement at http://www.walkamileinhershoes.org/.

Sponsor Families in Need for Christmas

The Christmas season is here and everyone is cheerfully (but frantically!) running around preparing for parties, gift exchanges and dinners. But there are many clients here at the Partnership who aren't so cheerful. Many are not expecting a visit from Ole St. Nick this season because of crisis in their lives. That's why the Partnership does a large-scale gift drive every year to collect gifts for our clients who are not as fortunate. This gift drive is called the Holiday Cheer Campaign.

Elder men and women living at home alone, victims of domestic violence living in shelter with their children, and many others who are dealing with family or personal crisis need help to provide a little bit of Holiday Cheer this year.

Anyone can sponsor an individual or family simply by calling Partnership Volunteer Coordinator, Rosemary Miller, at (423) 697-3830 or emailing her at rmiller@partnershipfca.com. Rosemary will match you with a "Wishlist for Santa" and you shop for the client just as you would shop for your spouse, best friend, or child. Drop your items off at the Partnership's 1800 McCallie Avenue office by December 15 and our own little elves will deliver the presents. It's that easy!

Of course, if you do not like to shop you can still help out. Simply visit partnershipfca.com and make an online donation to be used to purchase the client's wishlist items. Same end result - no shopping required!

Many are in need this year, and sponsorships are lower at this point than they have been in previous years. We sure could use your help.

Merry Christmas!

Domestic Violence Kills

Many of you have heard about the tragic murder of a local woman at the hands of domestic violence. The Partnership's Crisis Services is still reeling from the news. We want to tell as many people as possible that help is available to them and their families. We want them to know about our 24/7 Crisis Hotline that provides confidential, often life-saving assistance, to victims of domestic violence. Victims do not have to suffer. Please call (423) 755-2700 if you are being abused. Someone is available at all times to help you and your family get to safety. You don't have to hurt anymore.

CRISIS HOTLINE 423-755-2700

Celebrate Recovery Today - National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month

There are over 23 million Americans currently being treated for drug and alcohol addiction. They are on the road to recovery. This is the 20th year celebrating National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. Partnership Counseling Center joined the celebration today starting with a march across the Walnut Street Bridge and ending with a community presentation at Miller Plaza. Both city and county mayor offices recognized today's celebration with proclomations.

More important though, have been the stories recovering addicts have shared publicly today. As I sit here writing this now, a local artist is sharing his story of recovery and how CADAS helped him rebuild his life. A previous recovering addict, who was an attorney previously, shared his story of addiction to meth. A local nurse shared how she quite smoking after 35 years and reminded the audience that nicotine is also a drug. One consistent message of all the recovering addicts was that help is out there.

The Partnership Counseling Center is one of the many resources in Chattanooga. Cal 423-697-7130 to schedule a confidential appointment.

DWTSC Thank You to Supporters

Thanks to everyone who participated in some way in Dancing with the Stars Chattanooga! Saturday night was amazing! We had nearly 900 people in attendance, packing the Tivoli and Tivoi Centre for what had to be the best after party. Our own Lynda Hood raised over $7,000 to win the Fan Favorite Award - with all her proceeds benefiting the Partnership's Sexual Assault Center.

Alexis Bogo won the Dancing Champion Award, receiving high scores from the judges and a ton of votes from the audience. Her Fred Astaire instructor and partner was Kyle Barel. Way to go guys.

It was a close race for everyone. And everyone did such a great job. Josh McManus called on his Elvis alter ego, Ed Harrison was a Womanizer, Kelly Brexler nailed her finishing position (as seen in Sunday's Times Free Press!), and Dr. Marc Cromie pulled out all the stunts to Bring Sexy Back.

And if you haven't hears already, our guest star Maxsim Chrmerkovskiy auctioned off his pants for a whopping $2,100 -- and then sold another pair for the same price! He and Nicole Volynets were such professionals, and their dances were amazing!!

Can't wait to start planning for next year. Not sure how we'll top nearly 1,000 people in one of the city's best venues - with one of the best DWTS performers. But I bet you we'll do it!

Last week for tickets and voting!

Hi guys! This is the last week to buy your tickets to the much anticipated event, Dancing with the Stars Chattanooga. Tickets are selling fast so don't miss your chance to see Max from ABC's Dancing with the Stars as well as your local dancers. This is also the last week to send in your fan vote for your favorite dancer.

So, don't miss out and visit dancingwiththestarschattanooga.com now!

Check Out Our Moves

Our six local star dancers have been rehearsing for weeks in preparation for the June 26th DWTSC event and we have a little rehearsal footage for you to see! Each day this week, and each week leading up to June 26th, we'll have a little sneak peek for you. These are just little glimpses of our dancers' progress from beginning to end of their practices at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio. Music has been edited so the final performances will be surprise. Click on the video links to the right and ENJOY!

Dancing with the Stars Chattanooga - The Beginning of Fan Favorite Voting

Our dancing stars are practicing in back-to-back sessions now. Working through choreography with the instructors at Fred Astaire, trying on their dancing shoes for the first time, deciding on their music selection (which is going to be great, I have to tell you), and thinking about costuming. And let me remind you that each of our stars have full-time jobs. So it's not as if they have a lot of free time right now. Yet they still keep showing up to practice and take whatever is thrown at them, all to make sure DWTSC is a great event and a great fundraiser for the Partnership. And, I suppose, to make sure they don't trip up in front of 1,600 people at the Tivoli.

You would think that's enough to handle, right? But we're talking about our Chattanooga Stars. And these folks always go the extra mile. That's how they've become community leaders in their own fields. So it's no big deal for them to already be getting geared up for the DWTSC Fan Favorite Award contest.

The Fan Favorite Award will go to the dancer who receives the most pre-event votes for them. The contest puts the "fun" back in "fundraising" by allowing fans to make a donation that will directly support a specific program area of the Partnership, while also voting for their favorite dancer. The results are updated nightly on each dancer's bio at www.dancingwiththestarschattanooga.com . Fans can vote by text, by online donation, or by giving donations directly to the dancer if they so choose.

And each dancer seems to be developing their own campaign. Take Ed Harrison for example. He's set up a new Facebook page and has already received the first two online votes of the event! Ed is also donating his two free Green Room tickets (a.k.a. best seats in the house!) to one of his supporters who makes a donation over $20. We will randomly select a Fan before the event to receive the tickets. So make sure to check out his page and show your support.

Check back here regularly for event updates and comments from our dancers!