1. Dancing with the Stars - Austin 2008 (presented by Lexus of Austin ) featured Austin celebrities paired with professional dancers for a ballroom dance performance. The event featured a silent auction, a semi-live auction, a live auction, and a drawing for a Hybrid Lexus Luxury Utility Vehicle. A live band gave the guests a chance to dance the night away! Texas First Lady Anita Perry was the Honorary Chair for the event this year. Dancing with the Stars - Austin is being organized by Mary Tally , Stacee Bell , and professional ballroom dancer and Dance Director Sabrina Barker-Truscott . PRESENTS 2008 This charitable event is a benefit for the Center for Child Protection, a 501c3 nonprofit organization Sold Out! Sold Out!
2. As the sun began to set, guests start to arrive.
4. Vicki Howard , of Lexus of Austin, welcomes the guests and introduces First Lady Anita Perry who recognizes the work done by the Center for Child Protection. Guest Emcee Lance Avery Morgan introduces an exhibition dance from one of the 2007 event chairs.
5. Venus and Bill Strawn set the stage for the competition with the first dance. Dancing the Cha-Cha to I Like It Like That!
6. Sandra Martin , CEO of Center for Child Protection, takes the stage to thank guests for their participation and introduce a moving video about the work of CCP. Gayle Stallings begins the live auction.
7. Dance Director, Sabrina Barker-Truscott , introduced the judges and each Austin celebrity and their professional partner.
8. 2008 Celebrity Dancers Chief Art Acevedo – Austin Police Department Dr. Robert Clement – MD, APSI Skin Care Clinic Larry Connelly – Arts leader and philanthropist Meghan Danahey – KVUE-TV Broadcast Meteorologist Wally DeRoeck – Entrepreneur and community philanthropist Ronda Gray – Children’s advocate and Camp on the Move founder Maria Groten – Community volunteer Karen Hawkins – Community volunteer and philanthropist Mitch Jacobson – Former Dell executive and arts leader Amy Simmons – Founder/Owner of Amy’s Ice Cream Bill and Venus Strawn – Entrepreneur and community volunteer Roxanne Wilson – Survivor of hit reality show, The Apprentice 2008 Celebrity Judges Ed Clements – KLBJ-AM Talk Show Host; Ava Late – Owner of BMW of Austin and 2007 event contestant; and the Winner of Dancing with the Stars – Austin 2007: Bill Jones – Partner at Vinson & Elkins
9. KLBJ-AM Talk Show Host Ed Clements returns as a judge and is joined by Ava Late , owner of BMW of Austin who danced in last year’s event, and last year’s winner, Bill Jones , partner at Vinson and Elkins.
10. Meteorologist, Meghan Danahey , and her pro partner, David Vance Dancing the Cha-Cha to Listen To My Rhythm.
11. Apprentice survivor, Roxanne Wilson , and her pro partner, Denis Generalov Dancing the Paso Doble to The Matador and His Cape.
12. Surgeon, Dr. Robert Clement , and his pro partner, Katie Parr Dancing a Two-Step/Swing combo to Honky Tonk Time.
13. Amy Simmons , of Amy’s Ice Cream and her pro partner, David Kloss Dancing the Quickstep .
14. Larry Connelly , and his pro partner, Lindsay LeBlanc Dancing a Foxtrot/Cha/Hustle to Pink.
15. Ronda Gray , and her pro partner, Danny Davila Dancing the Swing to Stuff Like That There.
16. Mitch Jacobson , and his pro partner, Jennifer Kloss Dancing the Cha-Cha to Rocky Medley.
17. Maria Groten , and her pro partner, Mike Topel Dancing the Hustle to Slow.
18. Chief Art Acevedo , and his pro partner, Jolie Generalov Dancing the Cha-Cha to No Parking on the Dance Floor.
19. Karen Hawkings , and her pro partner, Curtis Prevost Dancing the Salsa/Quickstep to You’re The One That I Want.
20. Wally DeRoeck , and his pro partner, Sabrina Barker-Truscott Dancing the Tango/Paso to El Tango de Roxanne.
21. Lance Avery Morgan returns to the stage to remind guests to cast their votes and dismiss the judges. Attorney General, Greg Abbot , one of last year’s judges, also pops in for a visit.
22. Board President, Ben Bentzin , thanks everyone for their contributions and conducts the raffle drawings with his wife, Joanie . After dinner, it’s time for the prizes.
23. All the dancers return to the stage and Sabrina Barker-Truscott announces the winners: Tensions build... 2 rd runner-up: Wally DeRoeck 1 st runner-up: Chief Art Acevedo And the winner of Dancing with the Stars – Austin 2008: Ronda Gray!!!
24. Dancing with the Stars – Austin 2008 winners: Ronda Gray and Danny Davila
26. Photos are courtesy of Eric Hegwer and Josh Brewster To see all of their photos from the evening, or to order your own copies, please contact them at their websites: EricHegwer.com JoshBrewsterPhotography.com
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29. Thank you to all of the Sponsors, Supporters and Contributors who made the night such a huge success! Without you, it would not have been possible. The entire event was to benefit the Center for Child Protection