Jane Imbody
| Reporter assisted by AI
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USA TODAY
Eight Marion County celebrities are preparing to dance at the seventh annual celebrity dance gala, “Dancing in the Rain,” on March 7, 2026.
The event, organized by the Marion Women’s Club, is the club’s sole fundraiser and has become a highly anticipated event, according to a community announcement.
Club President and Gala Co-Chair Valerie Wigton said some dancers have already begun practicing their routines, and the gala committee has been planning the event since July.
Meet the dancers
The eight local celebrities participating in the gala are Lily Lloyd of Fable Bar & Co., Amanda Styer of OhioHealth, Sarah Hogan of Hogan Photography, Liz Feliciano, a community advocate, Robb Koons of Meadows of Marion, Jay McDonald of the Marion Police Department, Cass Sisler of Sisler Companies and Jon Fetter of Fetter Construction.
They will be performing various dance styles, including cha-cha, salsa, tap, hip hop and jazz.
The dancers are paired with professional instructors Melissa Bollinger, Don Ewell, Sarah Stalter, Kari McDorman, Eric Julian “EJ” Walker, Gabrielle Harter, Kenny Creviston and Dustin Rawlins, who volunteer their time and expertise.
Judges will present performance awards to the top male and female dancers, while the dancer who raises the most money for the Women’s Club & Home will be declared the overall champion.
Funds raised will go toward repairs
Funds raised at the gala will be used to restore the back porch and steps leading to the historic home, which was built in 1903. The repairs are estimated to cost between $65,000 and $80,000.
“It’s in need of urgent repair,” Wigton said in the announcement. “We’ve had a few falls, much of the wood is rotted, and the stairs are uneven.”
The 2025 gala raised nearly $100,000, thanks to corporate sponsorships and individual donations.
“It takes an enormous amount of funding to not only maintain the property, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, but also to offer programs and services to our community,” Wigton said. “But our donors, friends and supporters have stepped up to the plate every year. We’re hoping for another home run in 2026.”
Tickets are on sale now
In addition to the carriage house transformation, funds raised at previous galas have supported the restoration of the historic home’s front porch, the purchase of a new boiler, updates to the Abigail Harding Lewis Auditorium, interior painting and plasterwork, as well as club projects and community programs.
Tickets for the “Dancing in the Rain” gala are $125 each and can be purchased by contacting one of the dancers.
The Marion Women’s Club, founded in 1895, has 90 member volunteers dedicated to its mission of empowering women and enriching the community while preserving the historic home and promoting the club’s legacy, according to the announcement.
This story was created by Jane Imbody, jimbody@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct/.