Dancing with West Texas Stars ticket deadline approaches

The Crisis Center of West Texas fundraiser Dancing with West Texas Stars returns for its fifth year to unite the community behind their mission of ending sexual and domestic violence.
Dancing with West Texas Stars will take place Feb. 9 at the MCM Grandé Hotel and FunDome. The benefit will feature 10 local celebrities partnered with professional dancers to raise money to support victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Dance instructors from Love to Dance Studio, En Croix Dance Academy and JK Dance Center of Midland have volunteered to participate in the fundraiser.
Those considering attending the event will need to reserve a seat. Crisis Center Communications and Development Coordinator Hannah Horick said tickets are available for purchase until Jan. 25 or until they sell out.
“Dancing with West Texas Stars has grown every year and it’s been really popular,” Crisis Center Executive Director Karen Hildebrand said. “The room we can do it in holds about 900 people. We usually sell out every year and I hope that’s true this year too.”
Table ticket options are available for $10,000, $5,000, $2,150 and $1,500. Individual tickets are $150. Horick said half of the available spots remain as of Tuesday, which equates to about 40 tables that seat 10 people each. She said people wanting select tables closest to the performances should aim to purchase their ticket sooner rather than later.
The evening schedule will begin with cocktails at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m., dance competition at 7:30 p.m., performance by Spazmatics at 9 p.m. and awards at 10 p.m.
Hildebrand said the benefit offers community members a way to give back and show support for the services the Crisis Center provides to those in need. She said the proceeds will go toward funding a variety of operational expenses.
“The fundraiser helps us handle everyday expenses and fills in any gaps left by grants or donations,” Horick said.
The event is the Crisis Centers’ largest fundraiser and generated over $300,000 last year. Horick said they have used funds raised in the past to help clients replace government documents, take children staying in the shelter on outings, provide educational materials and purchase decor to make the shelter feel more like a home.
The Crisis Center has reportedly seen increases in the number of clients seeking services. In 2018, they provided services to 541 unique clients, compared to the 310 in 2017. Increased demand for services has presented the Crisis Center with new challenges relating to staff, shelter capacity and resources available for victims and their children, a Crisis Center press release stated.
Horick said community support will be even more important this year as they expand to accommodate the growing needs in the community and work to ensure their new shelter is ready before its grand opening. Hildebrand said the new 16,000 square foot facility on Lincoln Avenue will be completed in about a month. She said the new shelter will add 61 beds and provide more office space for case managers and counselors that work with clients.
“This fundraiser funds our general operations,” Hildebrand said. “We get some grants that will fund specific programs, but this helps keep our shelters operational, it helps buy groceries, it helps with the utilities, salaries and all of those things that keep the business operational from the shelter, the outreach center to the administration office. We all share in the benefits of the funds that are raised from the event.”