Hosparus Health’s 2023 Dancing with our Southern Indiana Stars raises nearly $300,000 for local families navigating serious illness

Sold-out event hosted at Huber’s Orchard and Winery

(NEW ALBANY, IN) — On September 12, a record-breaking 850 individuals gathered at Huber’s Orchard & Winery to support Hosparus Health Southern Indiana and their annual Dancing with Our Southern Indiana Stars fundraiser. The local celebrity dancers put on a spectacular show, flaunting their dancing expertise in a range of styles, from the passionate tango to the energetic jive. These daring individuals stepped out of their comfort zones to raise awareness of Hosparus Health services and funds to ensure that those with serious illnesses can get the support they need, regardless of their ability to pay.

“The thing I love about this event is how the community rallies behind our mission, from the dancers and professionals who spend months training, to our generous sponsors like Koetter Woodworking who support the event, to the enthusiastic crowd that makes this evening so much fun; we thank them all from the bottom of our hearts,” said Tawanda Owsley, Hosparus Health’s SVP/Chief Marketing and Development Officer. “Their support goes directly to making sure more local families, right here in southern Indiana, have access to hospice, palliative, and bereavement care.” The event raised nearly $300,000 to help even more Indiana families in need.

As one of only a few nonprofit hospice providers in the area, Hosparus Health serves the Indiana counties of Clark, Jefferson, Floyd, Scott, Harrison, Orange, Crawford, and Washington. In 2022, Hosparus Health of Southern Indiana’s team of physicians, nurses, social workers, certified nursing assistants, chaplains, and volunteers provided care for 650 local patients and their families. “For the past 45 years, we have been caring for those facing serious illness,” added Owsley. “Last year, we provided services to over 10,000 patients and families across 41 counties in Indiana and Kentucky.”

The singles’ winner was Vince Vissing, raising $28,929.43 for dancing a Jitterbug Swing number accompanied by professional Cherie Lanier. The couples’ category winners were Beth Ann and Tony Jenkins, who raised $84,223.08 and entertained the crowd with their Cha-Cha, Bachata, and Hip Hop medley. Their professional dance instructor was Irina Yevtenko.

The talented 2023 celebrity dancers were:

• Stephanie Breger, Permanent Makeup Artist, Salon B
• Micah Arnold, Owner, Arnold Painting, LLC
• Jack Dykes, General Manager, Huber’s Preferred Meats
• Robert Eichenberger, Patent Attorney, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
• Pamela Grieb, Community Relations Manager, Samtec, Inc.
• Tony Jenkins, Project Manager, PC Home Center
• Beth Ann Jenkins, Salon Owner and Master Colorist, Hair, Nails & More
• Laurie Kemp, Co-owner and Attorney, Momentum Title Agency
• Taylor McDaniel, Co-owner, Kaiser Tire Pros and Sr. Corporate Financial Analyst, Waystar
• Tiffany Dennison, Co-owner, Times Two, LLC
• Vince Vissing, Real Estate Agent/Broker, RE/MAX Ability Plus

In addition to an exhilarating dance competition where dancers compete for votes in the form of donations, the event featured silent and live auctions, a delicious buffet dinner, and a cash bar.

The judges for the event included Keith Kaiser, a feature reporter for WDRB, Julie Hammond, a former celebrity dancer and registered nurse at Hosparus Health, and Ike Orwick, a former celebrity dancer.

A dedicated committee of volunteers, including co-chairs Pam Lumley and Jill Peden, organized the event. Koetter Woodworking, Inc. was the presenting Foxtrot sponsor for the event. The event’s Cha-Cha sponsor was Dinsmore & Shohl LLP, and the Waltz sponsor was Arnold Painting.

Click here to view photos from the event. For more information, or to support Hosparus Health, visit our website, hosparushealth.org.

Media Contact:
Dyan Duncan
Executive Director of Marketing & Communications
502.814.5439
dduncan@hosparus.org

About Hosparus Health
Established in 1978, Hosparus Health is one of the nation’s largest and most respected community-based, nonprofit care providers for those facing serious illnesses. For 45 years, the mission-driven organization has championed equitable healthcare access by delivering specialized programs and holistic services across 41 counties in Kentucky and Indiana. Through the support of more than 600 employees and over 500 volunteers, Hosparus Health’s person-centered approach is focused on improving the quality of life for over 10,000 patients and families annually. Its interdisciplinary teams provide support for serious illnesses across the continuum, including medical care, symptom and medication management, grief counseling, hospice care, and palliative medicine. For more information about Hosparus Health, please call 800-264-0521 or visit www.hosparushealth.org.

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