Staff reports

Eight Eddy County celebrities will participate in the United Way of Eddy County’s inaugural “Dancing with the Eddy County Stars” fundraiser at the Walter Gerrells Performing Arts Center in Carlsbad.

The fundraiser will be modeled after several popular competition television shows, with professional dancers from the Utah Ballroom Dance Company partnering with Eddy County’s VIP dancers.

“This will be a memorable evening starring some of Eddy County’s most recognizable faces,” said Catalina King, United Way of Eddy County board member and event chair. “We know this will be an event you don’t want to miss.”

Tickets and sponsorships are available at onecau.se/dwtes. Those purchasing tickets or a sponsorship will have the option of giving points to one of the eight competitors. Dancers will be scored based on this fundraising, a live audience vote, and judging.

During the April 18 event, all eight competitors will perform with their professional partners. Audience members will get a chance to vote for their favorite during the intermission, and they will also be treated to a special performance by the Utah Ballroom Dance Company. The 2025 winner will then be announced.

Cal’s Shade Western is also partnering with the United Way of Eddy County.

“The United Way of Eddy County is deeply committed to maintaining its role as a grant-provider to Eddy County nonprofits, while also providing utility relief services through its 211 program,” King said. “In order to meet these two wonderful goals, we are looking at this new, exciting fundraiser as a way to help us better serve the citizens of Eddy County.”

“We want to give a very special thanks to Perry Oilfield Service for being an early-entry ‘Salsa’ ($10,000) level sponsor, which really provided us with the confidence to move forward with this fundraiser,” said Kyle Marksteiner, executive director of the United Way of Eddy County. “This is going to be a show that people are going to talk about for a long time.”

Dancers competing:

Johnny Chandler – Owner of KCCC Radio and Broadcast Media Program Manager at Southeast New Mexico College

Caleb Cunningham – Carlsbad MainStreet board member and active community volunteer

Frankie Davis – Owner of Little Digger Man and member of the Lions Club and Knights of Columbus

Tiffany Frintz – Nurse Practitioner and Owner of Harmony Healing in Carlsbad, NM and Preventive Medicine Centers in Palm Springs, CA, Chair of Southeast New Mexico College Board of Trustees

Matt Hutchinson – Eddy County Sheriff and nonprofit volunteer

Allyson Joy – Registered Dietitian, Owner of Heirloom Acres in Artesia and associate publisher of Focus Magazines.

Angeline Maxwell – Owner of Paradise Salon and Spa and a Carlsbad Chamber Ambassador

Dr. Amanda Ryan – Owner of the Advanced Heart and Vascular Center of New Mexico

Judges:

Hayley Klein – County Commissioner and Artesia Chamber of Commerce Director

Chad Ingram – Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce Director

Dr. Missi Currier – President and CEO of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association

For more information, please visit onecau.se/dwtes or call the United Way of Eddy County office at (575) 887-3504.