Dancing with the Chattanooga Stars celebrates ninth anniversary with biggest year yet

A 24/7 crisis hotline. Counseling. Court advocacy. Employee assistance. Credit counseling. Foster care.

These are only a few of the more than 20 programs the Partnership for Families, Children and Adults provides for any area resident in need.

However, says Development Manager Julie Tipton, a large portion of Chattanooga is still largely unaware of just how deeply ingrained the Partnership and its many services truly are.

Nine years ago, the umbrella nonprofit began to find recognition in the area with its first Dancing with the Chattanooga Stars event.

Still though, she says, "We're the largest nonprofit in Chattanooga and yet a lot of people really don't know what we do."

But this year could be the biggest yet. With dancers such as Cindy Wilson, director and nurse practitioner for the Center for Facial Rejuvenation, who have taken individual fundraising to record-breaking heights, the Partnership's name recognition is growing outside the circles of those who need help.

"When I was asked to dance with the Chattanooga Stars this year I thought it was all sequins and dancing," Wilson laughs. "Then I learned I had to raise $20,000, which was scary. Then this amazing team came alongside me and now our motto is 'Go big or go home!'"

In addition to her fundraising campaign, Wilson has taken her advocacy for the Partnership's Family Violence Center to the next level with her business's nonprofit, The My Fair Lady Project. The empowerment project provides not only a makeover, but financial and emotional support for recovering victims of violence.

"I am crazy-passionate about helping women feel beautiful," Wilson says. "Many times, these women have received negative messages about their value. I want to show them how special they are.

"The Partnership has been serving Chattanooga for over 100 years. They not only help women survive domestic violence and crisis, but help them thrive."

"It's always that Catch-22 of 'How do you get special-event donors to be involved long term?' and this has proven to be a great way to do that," Tipton says of the Stars event celebrating its ninth year this month.

This record-breaking year for fundraising could change that, she adds. Several dancers have surpassed the $50,000 mark. Wilson could raise more than $75,000.

"We could see $100,000 [from one dancer]," Tipton says. "And that's amazing."