News Release

October 31, 2006

A Night of Dancing Under the Stars to Benefit SAGE

Crystal Stairs hosts bi-annual fundraiser for its Nickerson Gardens child care center

On Saturday, September 30, 2006, Crystal Stairs hosted “Dancing Under the Stars”, an event to benefit its Nickerson Gardens SAGE Center. The festive evening event was held at the Wallis Annenberg Science Center in Exposition Park. The event raised over $80,000 for the child care center, with special thanks going to the events major sponsors, Arch Angel sponsor Union Bank, and Cherubim sponsors, Cal National Bank, Disney, and Foresters.

Crystal Stairs and SAGE supporters came out in full force to celebrate the center’s work and to have fun. Throughout the course of the night, dance professionals led lively fifteen minute instructionals for four types of dance styles: Salsa, Contemporary Urban Ballroom, Line Stepping and Hip-Hop. Everyone was encouraged to get on the dance floor and learn some new moves, and then to put those moves to the music.

Attendees were also treated to a moving rendition of Crystal Stairs’ namesake poem, “From Mother to Son”, written by Langston Hughes, recited by famed television actor and the event’s Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Wren T. Brown. “As working actors, we are all very busy, but this was an event and a cause that I wanted to support”, said Wren T. Brown. He has been a long-standing supporter of children’s issues and welcomed the opportunity to support Crystal Stairs’ efforts. Mr. Brown talked passionately about the impact SAGE has on the lives of its families.

A live band, a record-spinning DJ, and an “experience-based” silent auction were also part of the night’s festivities, all to raise awareness and funds for Crystal Stairs’ Nickerson Gardens SAGE Center. Ms. Vanessa Bell Calloway, an ardent supporter of Crystal Stairs served as an event co-chair, along with Ms. Renita Wilson, a parent and teacher at SAGE. They closed out the event by announcing the auction winners to a boogying crowd.

Crystal Stairs plans to host “Dancing Under the Stars 2” next year.

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