PCYDC says 'Thank you, Putnam County'

To the Editor:

On behalf of the Putnam County Youth Development Commission we want to extend our sincere appreciation to the Putnam County community for the overwhelming support of our fifth annual event Dancing with the Putnam County Stars.

Words cannot begin to express how grateful we are to live in such an outstanding community that embraces our mission of serving the children and youth of Putnam County. This event continues to bring together the entire Putnam County community to have fun, highlight the outstanding talent in our area, while raising money for our most precious assets, the youth of Putnam County!

This year over $57,000 was raised and once expenses from staging this annual philanthropic event are finalized our agency should clear over $30,000. Thank you Putnam County this total is absolutely amazing.

We are grateful to our partners: Dance Workshop (Tara Gardner and Lita Sandy), Dr. Brian Casey and DePauw University, including the Facilities, Theater and Media Services Departments.

A special thanks to the following sponsors:

Diamond -- Collins Evans Realty; Gold -- Bittles & Hurt /Hopkins Rector Funeral Homes, Jenny Sullivan and Eitel's Flowers & Gifts and Pingleton Sawmill Inc.

Silver -- Gail Smith and Almost Home/Swizzle Stick, Asbury Towers Retirement Community, Casa Grande, Chicago's Pizza, Comcast Business Class, Dixie Chopper, Elite Auto Image, Felling & Felling Law Office, Guardian Firearms Academy, Hayes, Murphy, Sharp & Brackney Insurance, Hendricks Power Cooperative, Millgrove Campground, Murray & Associates, North Salem State Bank, Nucor Steel, Putnam County Fraternal Order of Police, Therese Cunningham State Farm Insurance and Tri-County Bank & Trust (Roachdale).

Bronze -- Butler's LP Gas, Brad Tucker, State Farm Insurance, Cash Concrete, Concepts the Cabinet Shop, Co-Alliance, Club 103, Dave's Heating & Cooling, Delp Farms, Endeavor Communications, Endless PossibiliTees, Farm Credit (Mid America), Greencastle Physical Therapy, Harris Stone Service, Hoosier Heartland State Bank, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, Indianapolis Scottish Rite Men's Chorus, JTN Services Inc., Lents Accounting, Liberty Industries Inc., Lifebuilder Community Church, McDonald's (Jedele Enterprises), On the Flipside Gymnastics & Cheerleading, Pettit & Associates, Putnam County Museum, Rossok & Company Insurance Agency, Teena Bryant, Temple Lodge 47 and Tri-County Trash Removal.

Thank you to our guests who purchased premium tables: Penny Long, John and Cindy Hennette, Tanis Monday, Michael Coons, Ken Eitel, Lauralee Baugh, Collins Evans Realty, Jedele Enterpises, First National Bank, Felling & Felling Law Office and Ivy Tech Foundation.

And to those special volunteers whose work and selflessness means so much: Sherry Cash, Mary Ann Birt, Bill Merkel, Tom Sutherlin, Stacey and Jason Baugh, Cathy Westman, Jennifer Edwards, Eileen Johnson, Samantha Richardson, Anna Harmless, Brittany Brumfield, Jamie, Joe, Brooke and Noah Mourey, Nancy Zennie, Beth Benedix, Melissa Page, Trisha Quinn and the young ladies representing Alpha Phi Sorority who handled the 50/50 raffle, and the staff members from Teachers Credit Union.

Thanks to our judges, Denny Bridges, Matt Headley and Trudy Selvia, and our co-hosts, Beau Battin and Jana Brothers.

A special thank you to Jon Tesmer and the students of the Area 30 Career Center 3D/ Interactive Media Class for their hard work on our Sponsor PowerPoint presentation, Eli Kean Photography and Mike Welsh of Sounds Unlimited.

Our Dancing with the Putnam County Stars Instructors continue to amaze everyone how in just 10 short weeks they transform our stars into accomplished and competitive dancers. First we need to publicly thank Tara Gardner, who not only performed with her partner, but graciously stepped up to learn a new routine just 24 hours before the event to ensure Shawn Gobert could continue to participate. Jessyca South was injured prior to the rehearsal on Thursday and could not continue. Our best wishes to Jessyca South as she continues her recovery; we look forward to seeing her on the dance floor next year.

Other instructors were Lita and Brad Sandy, Logan Kuhne, Ashley Clute, David Boswell, Lori Briones, Andre Williams, Quinn Carrico, Jacob Peterman and Katie Wallace.

And to our 2013 Putnam County Stars, your sacrifice and dedication to making this event a night to remember will never be forgotten, your performances were absolutely brilliant: Mike Balka, Darrell Felling, Penny Long, Tara Baugh, Nancy Holsapple, Ken Eitel, Nancy Michael, Tanis Monday, Shawn Gobert, Dan McMurtry, Amber Bowers and Randy Seipel.

We would be remiss if we didn't mention our returning "alumni stars" from 2009-2012 for their outstanding and entertaining performance in the opening group number: Teena Bryant, Mary Miller, Mary Ann Birt, Cindy Hennette, Stacey Baugh, Gail Smith, Jeff Rich, David Zeiner, Sherry Cash, Jason Chew, Kathy Asbell and Chet Clodfelter.

The silent auction was another great success thanks to all the wonderful donations: Indianapolis ICE, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Jeffrey Boggess, Shedd Aquarium, Children's Museum, Indianapolis Zoo, Holiday World, Autographed picture of Cheryl Hines, Tony Stewart, Aromas From Heaven, Basket of Scrapbook Items from Angela Buhr, Golf picture from Nelson & Sunny Ford, McDonald's Basket, Indiana Pacers, Jeff Pendergraph, Cincinnati Reds baseball, Indianapolis Colts, Wilson's Formal Wear, Monster Mini Golf, JR Funnigans Jump & Play, Ryan Newman, Butler University, Scorpion, Inc. Auto Zone, Indonesian Interiors by Pat Allen and Pam Jeffries, West Central Vet Clinic, Mona Lisa Spa, Curves, Final Approach Restaurant, Walmart, Starbucks, Putnam County Museum, Dale Earnhardt, Indianapolis Indians, Pizza King, Dan McMurtry Riding Stables, Ron and Sherry Cash, Ball State University, Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, Rock N Rollers Skating, Buzz Bomb Graphics, Red Barn Farms, Sky Zone, Amber Bowers Photography, and school baskets from North Putnam, Cloverdale and Greencastle Middle School.

We are thankful to the many families that continue to attend our open dress rehearsal. This year saw an all-time high in donations of non-perishable food items. Six 55-gallon containers were shared with the following food pantries: New Providence Baptist Church, Putnam County Emergency Food Pantry, Bainbridge and Roachdale Christian churches.

Finally, we want to thank Greencastle Police Officer Ed Wilson and Greencastle Reserve Officers Ivan Croy and Jeremiah Jackson for ensuring the safety of our guests as they traveled to and from the event.

We can say with certainty the evening was a tremendous success. $30,000 will go along way to support our mission of serving the children and young people of Putnam County. Because of your heartfelt contributions, the following programs and events will continue to be offered at no cost to Putnam County families: CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate), Thinking for a Change, Putnam County Teen Court, Choices, Coats for Kids, and National Night Out. Annually the PCYDC touches the lives of over 3,500 children.

Thank you again, you are the greatest!

We hope to see you next year as we present and celebrate our sixth annual event.

Putnam County, we are blessed!

Renee Marsteller, President

Linda Merkel,

Executive Director

PC Youth

Development Commission