Charity Classic – The BIG Celebration!

You don’t want to miss the biggest community impact celebration of the year! Judging with the Stars Dance competition with local Chamber Members and a Celebrity Judge Panel is Saturday, September 23 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the City Club Raleigh located at 150 Fayetteville St. Suite 2800, Raleigh, NC.

This evening among the stars includes local chamber leaders showing off their dance skills on the dancefloor on the arm of Fred Astaire Dance Academy Cary instructors. The panel of judges will consist of local celebrities who will crown our winner!

Get your tickets now by clicking here.

Community Leader Dance Competitors: We have representation from the following Chambers: Greater Raleigh Chamber ( Shani Seidel ), Cary Chamber of Commerce ( Wendy Coulter ), Apex Chamber of Commerce (Mayor Jacques K. Gilbert ), Morrisville Chamber of Commerce ( Alicia Coleman, PHR, SHRM-CP, MBA ) and community leaders Ralph Ashworth (Ashworth Pharmacy) and H. Paul Hodges III (Bailey’s). Dance Competitor images and bios are at the bottom of this blog.

Celebrity Judges?included at this time: Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin , Amber Freeman (My Carolina Host), TJ Thorpe (Former NFL), Bryan Lord (WRAL), Dana Reason (Former Miss NC), Mike Dempsey (former NFL), and MC Beth Wood.

The evening starts at 6 p.m. with six food stations and a drink pairing. Live auction, sleight of hands and entertainment in the Grain room. We will transition to the ballroom at?8-10 p.m.?for the dance competition, DJ, MC and a halftime show with Flopballs. Enjoy a grand finale with a special dance from Gabi!

The proceeds benefit a local community partner,?Gabi’s: Powered by Special Abilities?and the City Club?Invited Clubs Employee Care Foundation.

This special event is presented by Travis Wright Colopy , Ralph Ashworth and City Club Raleigh , along with our local Chambers of Commerce and community leaders.

Thank you to the wonderful Auction Sponsors including Aimee Cuthrell Portraits and Fine Art, Luminae Spa, and NC Theater.

Gabi’s Pals – Mission

Gabi’s provides workforce training, education, and other support programs to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to help them secure employment, contribute to society, and live a purposeful, rewarding life.

Together, we can make an impact!

Jacques Gilbert – Mayor of Apex

Jacques Gilbert is a native of Apex, North Carolina where he currently resides. In April 2019, he retired from the Apex Police Department at the rank of Captain with 29 years of service.?

In November 2019 Jacques was elected the 32nd Mayor of Apex, North Carolina and was sworn in on December 3rd 2019 making him the first black mayor to be elected in the 150? year history of Apex.?

Shani Seidel – Raleigh Chamber

Shani Seidel is a proud graduate of Meredith College and a Proven Sales Leader and Top Achiever with 20+years of sales, account management and keen business development expertise (Education, Healthcare, Pharmaceutical, Finance and Nonprofit) Shani joined The Raleigh Chamber team as a Relationship Manager in June 2021. Shani is a Valued Partner and Trusted Resource for Raleigh Chamber members and companies that are relocating to the region and seeking networking and marketing opportunities the Chamber provides.

Ralph Ashworth – Title Sponsor

Ralph Ashworth, Cary Community Leader and founder of Ashworth Drugs. Ralph is known as a legend in Cary for his deep commitment that shines in everything he does. Here are just a few of his many contributions to Cary:

– 2017 Cary Hometown Spirit Award winner with his wife Daphne

– Ralph was a charter member of the Cary Chamber of Commerce and served as President in 1964 and 1994.

– Founding member of the Heart of Cary Association and served as President two terms

Wendy Coulter – Cary Chamber

As CEO of Hummingbird Creative Group , a brand strategy agency founded in 1995, Wendy Coulter is committed to providing clients insightful BIG IDEAS, intuitive innovation and inspired creative solutions. Wendy has served as Chair of the Board of the Cary Chamber of Commerce in 2022-2023. Wendy also founded the NC Women Business Owners Hall of Fame in 2018 to honor North Carolina’s most successful female entrepreneurs and advocates who have made significant and enduring contributions to impact women’s entrepreneurial development in North Carolina.

Paul Hodges – Community Leader

Paul, a native of Raleigh, North Carolina and graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, has spent most of his adulthood working in the fitness and hospitality industry; most recently transitioning into the jewelry business, with the locally owned and operated, Bailey’s Fine Jewelry. When Paul is not offering the best customer satisfaction in the country, he can be found living his best life in downtown Raleigh, indulging in fine dinning, men’s fashion, hot yoga and traveling to anywhere there’s a beautiful, ocean view beach. Most importantly, his main focus is supporting local charities and creating a sense of community within his vast networking of friends and businesses, in his beloved “City of Oaks!”