The countdown is on for show time, when eight locals will transform into professional dancers and strut their best moves.
Boca’s Ballroom Battle returns Sept. 14, where more than 800 spectators at The Boca Raton resort will watch their friends and neighbors duke it out on the dance floor to raise money for the George Snow Scholarship Fund.
In a city where the social season is a flurry of luncheons, galas and golf tournaments, the fund makes it a point to host out-of-the-box fundraisers.
“Over the history of our organization, we’ve always done fairly unique events and they’ve been very successful, and people actually look forward to them, which is nice to hear from the community,” says Tim Snow, president of the fund. “I look back and when we started this 17 years ago, we were giving away about $330,000 in scholarships. This year we have given out over $5 million in scholarships and support services.”
For five months, the dancers have been devoting their time to practicing with professional dancers at Fred Astaire Studios, mastering their routines to the point that it will be muscle memory. Plus, hosting fundraisers and spreading the word about the work that the George Snow Scholarship Fund does for the community.
Not only does the scholarship fund provide students with the money needed to attend college, but also support services as they navigate life as an adult. “We treat them like they’re our own children,” Snow says, such as sending care packages, purchasing computers, and providing emergency funds. With the holistic assistance provided, the fund has a 90% graduation rate—nationally, the college graduation rate is less than 70%.
Since the fund started in 1982, 3,318 students have benefited from the scholarships. Snow remembers one scholar who became a physician and later sent him a photo of her with her children.
“It’s not just helping [the students], it’s helping their families and it’s truly helping the future generations that come after these young people because with this education that they’re able to afford, it’s going to change the trajectory of their lives,” Snow says. “I don’t think there’s a greater gift than you can give anybody than an education.”
The nonprofit was formed in honor of Snow’s father and the namesake of the charity, George Snow. A career high school math teacher, he died in a tragic helicopter accident in 1980. To carry on his legacy, the George Snow Scholarship Fund was created to make sure money wouldn’t be a barrier to education for local students.
For Tim Snow, Boca’s Ballroom Battle is special because of the “love and energy that’s in the room.”
“Everybody in that room really understands the commitment that these dancers have made and everything that they sacrificed to get there,” he says. “Everybody is really cheering everyone on, and you can feel it.”
Co-chairs for this year’s event are former Boca’s Ballroom Battle dancers, Danielle Rosse and Brad Winstead. This year’s dancers:
- John W. Clidas, senior relationship manager and senior vice president of Synovus Trust Company
- Sarah Doyle, independent travel adviser with Valerie Wilson Travel
- Al Goldberg, retired, chef/owner of Gourmet Adventures Catering
- Gina Harrow, executive director of the Yellow Ribbon Fund
- Zoe Lanham, vice president of The Addison
- Dr. Jacqui Moroco, Moroco Orthodontics
- Alex Price, CEO of Priceless Perspective
- Matt Williams, founder of FROPRO Snack Bar
“They say everybody’s fear is public speaking,” Snow says. “But think about dancing in front of 800 people, and I think that’s a whole other level. The fact that they’ve agreed to do this for our organization, our scholars, speaks volumes about the kind of people that they are.”
Boca’s Ballroom Battle is Sept. 14 at The Boca Raton. For more information and to buy tickets, visit ballroombattle.com.
