‘Dancing With the Stars in a Caring Way’ spotlights fifth couple

Officials with Dancing With the Stars in a Caring Way are proud to announce the next couple participating in the May fundraiser.

The gala event will take place in dress rehearsal form on Friday, May 2, and in its grand form on Saturday, May 3. Both events are open to the public via purchasing a ticket.

Friday’s event will begin at 7:30 p.m., while Saturday’s will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a cocktail hour and silent auction prior to the dance performance (7:30 p.m.) and live music as votes are tabulated and where the winners will be announced.

Both nights’ events will take place at the Grand Opera House of the South.

Together, the Rotary Club of Crowley, Crowley Christian Care Center and Community Outreach Corporation are focusing on providing for the needy of the community. 

Eleven couples will be featured again this year, all vying for the coveted mirror ball and the title of 2014 Dancing With the Stars champions. The featured couple — couple number five — this week is Jennifer Trahan and Chris LeBas; their choreographer is LeaAnne Mooney. 

Jennifer Trahan is married to Robert Trahan and is a stay-at-home mom to their three children: Adam, Alex and Anna Claire.

Trahan graduated from Bogalusa High School, received her undergraduate degree in nursing from LSU, then went on to pursue a master’s in nursing from UT-Houston and is certified as a women’s health nurse practitioner. 

She is a member of St. Michael Catholic Church, an active member of Solitic Club, a member of the Acadia Players’ board and of the Main Street board. 

No stranger to the stage, you may have seen her as the Fairy Godmother in the Acadia Players’ production of “Cinderella.” She is also currently rehearsing for the summer musical, “Nunsense II: The Second Coming.” 

Jennifer enjoys attending and participating in theatrical productions and is looking forward to putting her talents to use in a way that will benefit others.

Chris LeBas is self-employed as the owner of Exterior Cleaning Services, Inc.

Since graduating from Opelousas High School and receiving his bachelor’s degree in business management from LSU, he has been a volunteer coach for kids softball and baseball as well as serving as pack leader for cub scouts. He is the proud father of five children: Lindsay Nicole, Christa Hope, Luke Christopher, Grace Evangeline and Eli Jacob. 

LeBas currently serves as president of the Church Point Community Development Corporation; he led efforts to build Buggy Town Playgound, assisted in creating the position of recreation director for the town of Church Point and led the way in getting Le Vieux Presbytere Museum operational. In addition, he has served on the Better Business Bureau of Acadiana Board of Directors, earning the nomination of 2013 BBB Integrity Award.

LeaAnne Mooney is a 2010 graduate of Notre Dame High School of Acadia Parish and is a student at University of Louisiana at Lafayette, pursuing a degree in psychology, with a minor in dance. 

She is a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority – Phi Nu chapter and was the 2013 panhellenic president. Mooney is employed by UL Lafayette in its human resources department and by Notre Dame as its cheerleading coach. 

She has had 16 years of dance experience as a student of Core Dance Center of Crowley and she lists dancing and cooking as some of her favorite hobbies. She is a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rayne, where she serves as a Eucharistic minister.

The success of the second annual Dancing With the Stars in a Caring Way, just as its inaugural predecessor, depends on fundraising not only by the couples gaining votes, but through sponsorships. Sponsorships are currently available as follows:

• Platinum Caring Heart - $5,000: includes box seats or preferred best available seating for four guests, reserved parking in front of the opera house, a full page ad in the program and 5,000 votes for your favorite couple(s).

• Gold Caring Heart - $2,500: includes two preferred best available seats, reserved parking in the back lot, 1/2-page ad in the program and 2,500 votes for your favorite couple(s).

• Silver Caring Heart - $1,000: includes 1/4-page ad in the program and 1,000 votes for your favorite couple(s). 

• Caring Heart - $500: includes 1/4-page ad in the program and 500 votes for your favorite couple(s).

Anyone interested in obtaining a sponsorship for this event to secure votes toward their favorite couple should contact Emily Stoma at 337-523-6044. Checks may be made out to Crowley Christian Care Center- DWS or CCCC-DWS and mailed to Stoma at P. O. Box 1874, Crowley, LA 70527. 

Tickets for this fundraiser, which will benefit the three worthy organizations, can be purchased through the Grand Opera House of the South by contacting Kim Gattle at 785-0440. Friday night tickets are $50 and Saturday night tickets are $100 per person. 

Online voting has already begun at: www.crowleydancestars.com. 

For more information, contact Stoma or Mary Zaunbrecher at 207-9789.