Homeless to reap benefits of PADS event
On Saturday, Public Action to Deliver Shelter of Elgin Inc. will host its Winter Harvest for the Homeless, an annual dinner, auction and dance contest. The event will take place at 6 p.m. at the Stonegate Conference and Banquet Centre, 2401 W. Higgins Road, Hoffman Estates.
Tickets cost $85. The event includes dinner, auction, and for the second year, Elgin Stars Dance Competition.
Cocktails and the silent auction will start at 6 p.m., Invocation at 6:55 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. with welcome and announcements.
Silent auction will close at 8 p.m.
The Elgin Stars Dance for PADS begins at 8:30 p.m.
Open dancing begins at 9:30 p.m.
Last year's initial "Dancing with the Stars"-like dance competition was such a success, it was again incorporated into the this year's benefit.
It may not be prime time TV, but the Elgin Stars dancers train hard for the dance competition. Couples volunteer or are asked to compete.
"Last year was the first time we held the dance competition," said Brittany Mitchell, Projects Coordinator of PADS of Elgin Inc. "Immediately afterward, people wanted to sign up for this year's competition, so we ended up with more dancers than we could use."
Each team is assigned a dance instructor, to master such ballroom staples as the cha-cha, tango, swing and salsa.
Dance studios donate rehearsal halls and the instructors donate their time.
This year's Elgin Stars include:
• Patrick and Katherine Hannell will perform a swing dance routine. Their instructor is Joyce Smith of Ballroom City.
• Danise Habun and Dan Roseman will dance the tango. Their instructor is Patricia Kassanits.
• Robin and Mark Seigle will dance the cha-cha. The couple's instructor is Pamela Martinez of Two Left Feet Dance Studio.
• Stephanie Gehrig and Bob Dean will perform a musical theater routine. Mary Coursey of Golden's School of Dance is their instructor.
• Betty and Paul Harth will dance to the Salsa beat. Celia Lopez of Golden's School of Dance is their instructor.
• Caron and John Worklan will perform the rumba. Their instructor is Alex Artega of Northwest Suburban School of Performing Arts.
Donations to PADS are made when guests raise their "star" paddles and vote for their favorite couple.
In addition to raising money for PADS of Elgin, the winners receive an engraved star paperweight.
Items for the auction traditionally feature tickets to sporting events, gift baskets, bar and grill sets and original artwork.
To donate auction items, you can drop them off at the PADS shelter, 1730 Berkely St., Elgin.
PADS of Elgin Inc. is a nonprofit, community-based organization which provides emergency, overnight shelter to homeless men, women and children within Elgin, Dundee and Hanover townships.
For more information on PADS of Elgin, the Winter Harvest for the Homeless or to make a donation for the silent auction, call (847) 608-9744.
If you go
What: Winter Harvest for the Homeless
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: Stonegate Conference and Banquet Centre 2401 W. Higgins Road, Hoffman Estates
Admission: $85
Call: (847) 608-9744