Dance-off challenge between Loganville / Monroe mayors for Project Renewal

First, it was on the football field, and now it’s on the dance floor. The rivalry between the Monroe and Loganville mayors has moved to a happy feet challenge. Both have lent their celebrity, and talents, to Project Renewal’s Dancing with the Stars challenge that will take place next month at the Porter Performing Arts Center in Covington. Loganville Mayor Rey Martinez, still stinging from his football loss to Monroe Mayor John Howard, likes his chances on the dance floor.

Martinez and Howard are two of the public figures who are lending their talents on the dance floor to the event on Feb. 16, 2019, that will raise funds for Project Renewal, a domestic violence program serving Walton, Newton, and Rockdale. Monroe Police Department’s Lt. Brent Davis and Social Circle Police Chief Tyrone Oliver are the other two competitors from Walton County who are joining the cast from Rockdale and Newton. They all have a dance instructor who has signed on to teach their partner the right moves. In Howard’s case, it is his daughter, Anna, who may already feel she has bitten off more than she can chew. Jiffy Helton is the partner, and instructor, for Davis and Oliver, who will be dancing with his wife, has an instructor giving them both pointers on how to win the challenge.

The overall winner, however, will be Project ReNeWal and the people who rely on its service to get out of an otherwise hopeless situation. Project ReNeWal is a not for profit 501 c 3 domestic violence intervention program that provides emergency shelter, crisis support and services to victims of domestic and family violence. It has an annual budget of more than $700,000 and was looking for new and innovative ways to raise the funds. That’s when the idea of a fundraising version of Dancing with the Stars was conceived.

“Each year, our Executive Board of Directors plans and completes an annual fund-raising event. In the last 18 years our major event has been a golf outing at Cherokee Run in Conyers,” Vickie Stevenson, executive director of Project Renewal, told Walton Living for a story in the latest issue of the magazine, going on to give some details of next month’s event. “This event will consist of local dignitaries performing dances that have been choreographed by local dance professionals in order to raise funds for the shelter. It promises to be a fun-filled night that will show off the talents of local shelter supporters.”

Newton County comes in with some star power of its own with Dr. Steven and Kathy Whitworth and Sen. Tonya Anderson to name a few. And not to be left out, Rockdale County also has its dance champions hopefuls with names like District Attorney Alicia Johnson and Claire Cline.

You can get in on the action and support your favorite dance duo well before that. The teams have begun meeting with their dance instructors for practice sessions and those videos will soon be shared on the Project Renewal Facebook Page. They also will be shared here on Your Local News for you to click through and find where you can offer your financial support for your favorite team. The purchase of just one ticket to the event from your favorite celebrity dancer, for $25, gives 25 votes to that team. The local dancer celebrities will be finding sponsors in advance of the big finale.

Look for more information to be shared, along with the videos, as the big finale approaches. Follow the Facebook Page to keep up with information on the event and check out the website for more information on the services of Project ReNeWal.