Reprinted from the Arizona Daily Star/Foothills, May 22, 2008


By Jill Torrance

The Dancing With our Stars fundraiser at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort raised about $20,000 for the Southern Arizona Community Diaper Bank.

That amount will buy 100,000 diapers and adult briefs, according to the event organizer.

Friday’s event at the resort, 7000 N. Resort Drive, was the second annual such fundraiser for the diaper bank, which provides diapers for children and adults in need.

“I’m excited that we are raising awareness in our community,” said Kirsten Grabo, executive director of the diaper bank. “People are starting to think about adults as well as children. That’s important in our aging community here in Tucson.”

The event featured community stars paired with professional dancers from local dance studios. The community stars took lessons before the event from the professionals and performed what they had learned. The audience was asked to vote on their favorite couple.

“The diaper bank wanted to do a fundraiser, and they asked me, ‘Should we do a golf tournament?’ I said, ‘No, let’s do this,’ ” said Artie Stone, volunteer event coordinator and event judge.

Winners were Dan Marries, cha-cha; Faria Dretler, waltz; Richard Luebke, rumba; and Carolyn Russo, tango.

● Contact photographer Jill Torrance at 573-4155 or [email protected].
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