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Published Wednesday, February 01, 2012 in Local

'Walk a Mile,' Dancing Stars will benefit Welcome House

By Rebecca Leftwich

The Newnan Times-Herald

If you're in downtown Newnan Feb. 11, don't be alarmed to see a parade of men prancing around in women's shoes.

It's for a good cause.

The "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" event, sponsored by Community Welcome House's Teen Advisory Board, starts at 11 a.m. and is designed to draw attention to Teen Violence Dating Month as well as to raise money for women and children who are victims of domestic abuse.

Men and boys will begin and end their walk in women's shoes -- heels, pumps, flip-flops, sandals, espadrilles, ballet flats or any female footwear of their choice -- at Wadsworth Auditorium. Their trek will take them through Court Square, and each walker will be eligible for prizes in a Dress Up Competition. A Fancy Shoe Contest and Ugly Shoe Contest will add to the fun.

"Getting men involved is brilliant," said Linda Kirkpatrick, executive director of Community Welcome House.

Kirkpatrick during Monday's board meeting praised the teen advisors, whose end-of-the-year spaghetti dinner netted $400 for Welcome House.

"I've seen our teens blossom in what they're doing," she said, noting the group also plans an upcoming bake sale at Central Educational Center.

Community Welcome House's popular Coweta's Dancing Stars benefit will be April 18 at the Centre for Performing and Visual Arts. In its fifth year, the event features community "stars" of business and industry and influential citizens.

"It's wonderful," said Patrice Evans, one of this year's competitors, who is learning to do the Charleston. "It's a lot of fun. I'm not a dancer, but I'm going to be a dancer."

"We've got a good group of people," event coordinator Judi Alvey told the board at Monday's meeting. "We've put some new dances in the show and more contemporary music. We want to make it fun without losing the integrity of ballroom dancing."

Three judges will present a Judges Award to the dancer of their choice, but the People's Choice Award is any dancer's for the taking. One vote is awarded per dollar donated in that dancer's name. Sponsorships are available along with the $10 general seating and $20 preferred seating tickets.

Welcome House Board Chairman Raymond Grote said the success of Coweta's Dancing Stars is extremely important to the organization.

"It's our major fundraiser," he said. "It provides 15-20 percent of our funds."

For information on Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, call 770-304-0966, Ext. 4 or e-mail Kirkpatrick at lindakirk@charter.net .

For information on Coweta's Dancing Stars, e-mail Alvey at Judi_Alvey@cable.comcast.com or visit www.communitywelcomehouse.org and click on "Coweta's Dancing Stars."

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