Dancers ready to hoof it for Fort Mill sports

For the first time in nearly five years, the Fort Mill School District is fully funding middle school athletics.

However, that doesn’t mean the parent-run organization that formed to keep the programs afloat after budget cuts a few years ago doesn’t need to keep raising money. The annual Dancing With the Stars – Fort Mill fundraiser, which has become a premier event, returns in February.

Dancing with the Stars – Fort Mill aims to bring in $100,000 this year to help sports teams with expenses above basic operating cots. With district funding restored to middle school teams, proceeds from the 2016 DWTS competition will be split 50-50 among middle school and high school programs, said event co-chair Lisa McCarley.

DWTS will be held Feb. 13 at the Point Arts and Recreation Center in Fort Mill. The local celebrity cast of dancers includes Tega Cay City Manager Charlie Funderburk, radio personality Chuck Boozer and Mrs. S.C. International 2016 Dana Boutwell. They have already turned to social media to drum up support for their teams as each contestant has an eye on the coveted Mirror Ball Champion trophy.

The Fort Mill School District Athletic Board formed the Refuse to Lose Middle School Sports self-funding program to keep middle school sports going after the district had to make cuts to several programs after a reduction in state revenue during the 2009-2010 school year said Kelly McKinney, district spokesperson.

After experiencing a budget surplus, the school board put $60,000 aside for athletics since the 2012-2013 school year, but was able to once again include sports as a budgeted item for the 2015-’16 school year, McKinney said.

This past February, DWTS raised $85,000 and attracted more than 650 attendees, McCarley said.

With the district resuming funding, the Athletic Board was able to donate $175,200 – $43,800 each – to the four middle school athletic booster clubs in Fort Mill, said Michele Branning, a member of the Fort Mill school board and a contestant in this year’s dancing competition. The board kept funds in required reserves, but is now free to disburse the money to high school programs as well.

Branning said athletics is something she is passionate about.

“Athletics are near and to my heart,” she said.

“It gives so much to a kid in so many ways. If I had not had the opportunities offered to me, I would not be where I am today.”

With basic funding assured, the Athletic Board will now support school sports with equipment and scholarship needs for all the athletic boards within the district, McCarley said.

“There is always a need for more funding,” she said.

“We’re excited that this event will now be providing much needed funding for middle school and high school athletic programs.”

While she is in it for a good cause, Branning said she is pulling out all the stops to win.

“My eye is on the Mirror Ball,” she said. “Go big, or go home.”

The contestants will perform one ballroom style routine and one freestyle, McCarley said. Contests will compete on both routines, crowd appeal and fundraising through sponsorships and ticket sales.

Branning said she cannot wait to take to the dance floor for a cause she believes in.

“I’ve wanted to do this since the very beginning,” she said. “It’s another means for me to give back to things I feel are valuable and important.”

Funderburk said he is also looking forward to being part of Dancing with the Stars – Fort Mill.

“To have an opportunity to raise money for middle school and high school athletics in this school district is an honor,” he said.

“Sports were always a big part of my life and having the opportunity to make sure that kids today have that same opportunity is really special.”

This story was originally published November 12, 2015 at 6:52 PM with the headline "Dancers ready to hoof it for Fort Mill sports."