Stars ready to 'cut a rug for mentoring'

By Tessa Roy
Posted 4/6/17

By TESSA ROY Local stars" are putting on their dancing shoes for the The Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership. RIMP will host its 11th annual Dancing With the Stars of Mentoring on April 27. Eight stars from area businesses are paired with coaches from"

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Stars ready to 'cut a rug for mentoring'

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Local “stars” are putting on their dancing shoes for the The Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership.

RIMP will host its 11th annual Dancing With the Stars of Mentoring on April 27. Eight stars from area businesses are paired with coaches from The Dancing Feeling and compete for the “People’s Choice,” “Judges Choice” and “Most Entertaining” trophies.

In addition to dancing, getting lessons from their professional partners and performing in front of as many as 500 people, the stars each fund-raise $2,500 and bring 20 people to attend the event. RIMP president and CEO Jo-Ann Schofield said the event has netted more than $100,000 in past years and represents almost 20 percent of RIMP’s annual budget.

“It really is people that like us a lot and are willing to cut a rug for mentoring,” she joked.

Bekah Berger of Hot 106 was feeling the pressure; there is a legacy of participants from her station, so she feels she has to keep doing well.

“If I screw this up, I will never live it down at work,” she said. “I danced regular dance for a long time, but this is nothing like regular dance.”

However, Berger is dedicated to making her dance partner proud. She also called RIMP a “great organization” to support and said she’s been lucky to have mentors in her own life.

Navigant Credit Union’s Nicole Truppi said she’s nervous but excited nonetheless. To her, mentoring represents hope.

“I’m really glad to bring attention to something so needed in Rhode Island,” she said.

YearUp’s Ivan Marte, who has been involved with RIMP for more than a decade, said mentoring has helped him become the person he is today and sees his participation in Dancing With the Stars of Mentoring as another way to pay forward his support for the people with whom he has worked.

“My promise has always been to those people that thought I can’t pay it back, I would always pay it forward,” he said.

It costs “nothing but time” to mentor someone, he said, adding that he “went home a better dad” because of his most recent mentoring of a 10-year-old boy.

“You never really know the full extent of your reach,” he said.

Rick Medeiros, who will dance to represent the PawSox, said practicing for the event has been difficult but fun.

“My better dancing days are well past,” he quipped, noting that he was brought up in the disco age. “It’s a fantastic cause, and you see the dedication and genuine caring that these people do. It’s quite remarkable.”

The rest of the “stars” participating are Shannon Brodeur, Cox Business; Christopher Cioe, Northwestern Mutual; Jayne Donegan, Textron; and Melanie Flamand, Flamand & Associates.

The big night takes place on April 27 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet in Cranston. Heather Gersten from Lite Rock 105’s Heather and Steve Morning Show and NBC10’s Mario Hilario will host. There will be dinner and a silent auction. Reservations are required and cost is $85 per person, which can be made by visiting www.mentorri.org or by calling 732-7700. Reservations must be made before April 19. Business dress is recommended attire for the night.

FRIENDLY COMPETITORS:

Nicole Truppi (left) of Navigant Credit Union and Bekah Berger of Hot 106 are two of the “stars” facing off in the competition in April. SUPPORTING THE CAUSE:

Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership President and CEO Jo-Ann Schofield poses with Rick Medeiros, who will represent the PawSox at the event.

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