FARMINGDALE — Ten of Monmouth and Ocean counties’ most influential business people recently took to the dance floor in a battle to determine who could show off the best moves in front of an audience of more than 350 people and a panel of local celebrity judges.
“Dancing With Our Monmouth and Ocean County Stars” was held Nov. 3 at the Eagle Oaks Country Club in Farmingdale and raised more than $76,000 for the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore. This is the second year of the dance event.
All proceeds will benefit programs for girls in Monmouth and Ocean counties to help them grow into women of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.
This year’s dancers included: Mary Clarke of HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Toms River; Laura Grunin of The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation; Michael Hennicke of Oliverie Funeral Home; Joe Leone Introna of Joe Leone’s Italian Specialties; Kathi Mead of Investor’s Bank; Geri Oliverie of Oliverie Funeral Home; Jonathan Petro of Carluccio, Leone, Dimon, Doyle and Sacks; Lou Russo of Townsquare Media; Domenick Servodio of TD Bank; and Ron Wollner of CDS.
All dancers partnered with professional dancers from Shore Dance Sport of Brick, Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Manasquan and Little Silver Ballroom, with the exception of Michael Hennicke, Geri Oliverie, Laura Grunin and Jonathan Petro, who received professional lessons from one of the studios.
Dancers were judged on a 10-point scale by a team of celebrity judges who are also well-known business leaders. Noelle Carino of the Greater Toms River Chamber of Commerce joined the judges panel this year. Carino won the 2015 “Dancing With Our Monmouth and Ocean County Stars” event. Jeremy Grunin of The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation also served as a first-time judge and had participated in the 2015 dance event.
Returning as judges for the second year were Thomas Hayes of New Jersey Natural Gas and Carol Stillwell of Stillwell-Hanson Inc.
To ensure impartiality, Toms River Police Chief Mitch Little stepped in as a guest judge when Jeremy Grunin’s wife took the dance floor. In addition, Jim DeAngelis of Lakewood Blue Claws served as emcee for the evening. DeAngelis also danced in the event in 2015.
After dancing was complete, two awards were presented. The People’s Choice Award was given to Mary Clark and her partner Sean Nepveu of Shore Dance Sport. The award recognizes the dancer who raised the most money to support the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore prior to the event.
The Mirror Ball Trophy, which was given to the dancer judged best in the competition, was given to Kathi Mead and her partner Luciano Catelli of Shore Dance Sport.
Next year’s “Dancing With Our Monmouth and Ocean County Stars” event is scheduled for Nov. 16. Those interested in dancing can contact Madalaine Rice, chief development officer of Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore, at 800-785-2090.