With Every Beat - Cardiovascular Disease Prevention

Following graduation from high school, I adopted the cause of preventing cardiovascular disease. As a dancer, my training and performing have centered on learning routines “with every beat” which seemed to be a natural correlation to my heart education initiatives. Just as the human heart beats in rhythm, each step I have learned and performed as a dancer to a musical selection is accomplished beat by beat. Thus, the idea of “With Every Beat” was born.

As my involvement in my platform activities increased, I understood the need to raise funds for cardiovascular research in addition to promoting my education initiatives. Using the relationships I had forged in the dance community over the last fifteen years, I coordinated a dance showcase in 2007 for area dance studios and dance teams to raise money for the American Heart Association (AHA). The inspiration for the showcase was my friend and tap teacher Meredith Ward who died at age 26 due to a heart condition proving again that cardiovascular disease can strike anyone at any age, in any socioeconomic group, and in any race - it is nondiscriminatory.

The 2007 showcase was a great success, giving the dancers an opportunity to perform and share their talents while raising $1,550 for the AHA and increasing awareness of this “silent killer”.  I sponsored the Dance Showcase again in 2008 and raised $2,000 for the Natalie Henry Fund that was established to provide an “Infant CPR Anytime Kit” to families with high risk newborns before hospital dismissal.  The money we raised at the 2008 performance was matched by the Fund, so a total of $4,000 was generated for this wonderful program.  The Third Annual Dance Showcase was held this year on February 7th and featured over 180 dancers from all over the state.  Our collective effort from this year’s performance raised $2,475 for the American Heart Association.

Click here to learn more about "With Every Beat".

Children's Miracle Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children¹s hospitals across North America. Each year the 170 Children's Miracle Network hospitals provide the finest medical care, life-saving research and preventative education to help millions of kids overcome diseases and injuries of every kind.

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, Children's Miracle Network has grown dramatically since its founding in 1983, from a televised fund raiser in a small studio to one of the world’s leading children’s charities helping 17 million kids each year.

Click here to learn more about my involvement with Children's Miracle Network.  To make a donation, please click here.

Reading Across America

The National Education Association annually sponsors Read Across America. Now in its twelfth year, the program focuses on motivating children to read and master basic skills.  The reading celebration takes place each year on or near March 2, the birthday of Dr. Seuss. Across the country, thousands of schools, libraries, and community centers participate by bringing together kids and books, and you can too!  On March 2, the National Education Association calls for every child to be reading in the company of a caring adult.

Here I am reading to the children at Helena Elementary School, the elementary school that I attended. I read the book “Good Night Princess Pruny Toes.”