Stars of the stage, a former town official, an artist, a photojournalist and business and community leaders stepped onto the dance floor for Raise the Roof’s second annual Gala of Stars: Dancing for the Cause. Raise the Roof invited stars—community leaders passionate about making the world a better place by providing opportunities for families to own safe, affordable homes—to dance and compete with a special fundraising twist. They danced to build a Habitat house in New Haven.

Carly Callahan and John Johmann
Rachael McNerney and Alistair Sweeney
Joan and Fillmore McPherson
Victoria Font Newman and Paul Kuehn
Julie Ovian and Sean Fowler
Jennifer Russo and Tom Murphy
Maria and Chris Small
Kim and Jason Spanier
Bernadette Welsh and Philip Ross

Raise the Roof’s 2016 stars were invited because of their leadership, heart and commitment. Click on each couple’s name to read their bios and reasons for stepping onto the dance floor for this cause.

The stars learned choreographed ballroom routines during ten private lessons provided by Arthur Murray Guilford, Raise the Roof’s Event Partner. The dancing stars performed on October 28, 2016 at Raise the Roof’s Gala of Stars: Dancing for the Cause at The WoodWinds of Branford. The stars competed for “votes” (dollars = votes) and their dancing raised the funds for the building of Raise the Roof’s thirteenth Habitat for Humanity house. Thank you to all those who supported their wonderful efforts.

Read more here. See photos by event photographer Alex Syphers here.