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2B CONTINUED has announced that its 4th annual gala to benefit suicide prevention and mental health awareness is coming up Saturday, April 13. Pre-show begins at 5:30 p.m. with showtime at 6:30 p.m. at the Glencoe City Center.
The event features 12 selected star couples from Brown, Carver, McLeod, Nicollet, Renville, Sibley, and Wright counties. The dancers are working with a professional choreographer to learn a dance routine to participate in the friendly dance competition which raises money for the 2B CONTINUED organization and awareness of its mission.
This year’s dance partners include: Scott & Patti Bates, Green Isle; Chad & Kelli Burau, Howard Lake; Keith & Angela Christen, Lester Prairie; Steve & Kate Curtis, Chaska; Troy & Kelly Higgins, Glencoe; Cullen & Mandy Kennedy, St. Peter; Tyler & Heather Kratzke, Gaylord; Adam & Krystal Kube, Mayer; Mike & Shannon Lien, Hutchinson; Ryan & Shannon MulQueeny, Hutchinson; Zach & Amber Pierce, Hector; and Dan & Marja Sowers, New Ulm.
Locally, Laura Falk of Waconia is one of the choreographers while Waconia Dance Company is providing rehearsal space. Among the celebrity judges is Mike Phelps, president and CEO of Ridgeview.
The show is sold out but there are still two options to see it: Register for a free livestream ticket to watch at home, or attend a watch party. You can also become a sponsor or “vote” for your favorite couple to support their pre-event fundraising campaign at: www.2BCONTINUED.org/DLTS2024.
The Dancing Like the Stars Show is the primary funding source for the teen Mental Health First Aid program. 2B CONTINUED certified instructors are teaching the Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) curriculum to 60 class sections of high schoolers in 16 area school districts: Buffalo Lake-HectorStewart, BOLD, Central (NYA), Eden Valley Watkins, Glencoe – Silver Lake, Hutchinson, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted, Lester Prairie, Mayer Lutheran, New Ulm Cathedral, St. Peter, Sibley East, Sleepy Eye, Springfield, Waconia, and Watertown-Mayer. Each school has between 2-10 class sections.
The program costs about $2,500/section of 30 students, making 2B CONTINUED’s tMHFA school program budget at $150,000. The program is offered without charge to schools, removing any financial barrier to participation. The response from schools and participants to this training has been overwhelmingly positive. We currently have a waiting list of schools wanting this evidence-based training program.
The 2B CONTINUED organization, dancers and choreographers work extremely hard to put on an engaging and memorable show while raising funds needed to provide these important education and community outreach activities. Couples are selected by 2B CONTINUED’s Executive Director Tammy Diehn, with the assistance of the board of directors.
For information, visit www.2BCONTINUED.org or contact 2B CONTINUED at info@2bcontinued.org or (320) 854-HOPE (4673). Please note: 2B CONTINUED does not offer any professional services. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call, text, or chat 988.
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