Janice Hoefer
Age: 55
Hoefer Funeral Home

Mike McGhee
Age: 60
District 122 State Representative

Colleen King
Age: 36
Event Coordinator

Virginia Wilson
Age: 33
Voted Off: July 29th

Jon King
Age: 42
Voted Off: July 15th

Nick Smith
Age: 25
Voted Off: July 15th

Revenue from ticket sales from all shows will divided equally among these six community organizations to benefit various projects.

Heat and Hunger Fund

Project: Ongoing Services

The Higginsville Heat and Hunger Fund is a ministry sponsored by the Higginsville Ministerial Fellowship. The Ministerial Fellowship was established in 1948 as a group of local pastors to promote interdenominational community worship services and to join together in ministering to community needs. The Higginsville Heat and Hunger Fund was established in 1983 as a practical means of ministering to specific needs in the community. The Higginsville Heat and Hunger Fund provides financial assistance to families living in the Lafayette County C-1 School District who need help with a utility bill. The Heat and Hunger Fund is able to assist a family one time in a year up to a maximum of $150 toward a utility bill. The Heat and Hunger Fund receives funds from The United Way of Higginsville, local churches as well as individuals in the community. In 2007, 143 families were assisted providing over $17,000 in aid.

Higginsville Head Start

Project: New Playground Equipment and Gravel

The Higginsville Head Start program is part of the Missouri Valley Community Action Agency. Our mission is to engage communities and focus resources to end poverty. Community Action changes people's lives, smbodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.

Head Start is a program that serves families with children ages 3-5. We have 2 classrooms, AM and PM. While in our care, the children are fed 2 meals, learn basic Kindergarten readiness skills, and learn to get along with others their own age. We also help the families by making sure their basic needs are being met, like housing assistance, food assistance, GED help, parent education, help with medical issues, and any other needs that might arise.

With the money that we will receive from this event, we would like to improve our 20-year old playground with newer and safer playground equipment.

Friends of the Library

Project: Multiple

The Friends of the Library is an organization created in 1987 to help to provide for the needs of our local library. Since we live in a small community, the budget allotted to the local library is small and does not allow for the ability to purchase needed items for itself.

In just the last few years alone, the Friends organization has provided the library with:

• new landscaping
• cleaning and painting of the basement making it into a usable space for events
• special events to celebrate Harry Potter book and film releases
• "Milk and Cookies" story time outside of the normal story time with special guest performances, snacks, and crafts
• entertainment available to the public to enhance the Summer Reading Program
• participation in the "Books For Children" grant from the Libri Foundation to acquire 67 new children's books
• new computer monitors; reference materials such as a topographical globe
• and most recently, a bathroom remodeling project with partnership from Grandview Elementary students to create self-portrait tiles to create a mural in the bathroom of the library.

The Friends is currently working on projects to acquire handicap access for library, provide fun events that encourage patronage to the library, continue to improve current facilities, as well as hopes for future expansion of the facilities. This organization is very active and beneficial in our community. Meetings are held every 3rd Thursday at 7pm at the Robertson Memorial Library, 19 W. 20th Street in Higginsville, Missouri.

Care Connection Services

Project: Wellness Weight Training Equipment for Elderly

Care Connections Services for the Aging manages 23 senior centers in the state of Missouri. Our mission is to assure that older Missourians residing in the area we serve have the ability to live out their lives with maximum independence and dignity in their own homes and communities. The Higginsville Senior Center is located at the Higginsville Community Center and provides these vital services:

• Meal Programs serve delicious meals in the senior center as well as offering home-delivered meals to house-bound elderly.
• Transportation Services are provided by O.A.T.S. for all persons 60 years and older, providing access to the local senior center, and essential business, shopping, and healthcare services.
• Long Term Care Ombudsman Program provides area nursing homes with a network of trained advocates who regularly visit residents to address their needs and concerns.
• Seniors Community Service Employment Program provides on-the-job training opportunities for eligible persons 55 years of age and older who are seeking employment.
• Silver Haired Legislature is a statewide advocacy group which develops and recommends legislation to benefit and support older Missourians.
• Legal Assistance is provided for persons 60 years of age and older who have need for counsel with problems concerning acces to public benefits such as Medicare/Medicaid and Social Security, guardianship and housing issues.
• In-Home Services include an aray of support programs such as homemaker chore, personal care, respite for caregivers, telephone reassurance, and friendly visiting, which help older persons remain independent in their own homes.
• Information and Assistance Services at the Senior Center inform, guide, direct and link older persons to available resources and services in their community.
• Education and Advocacy Services include nutrition and health education, health screening, assistance, and insurance questions, housing and home safety information, Medicare/Medicaid assistance, consumer education, elder abuse education, and tax assistance.
• The Senior Sentinel is a publication providing news and information to a current readership of over 12,000 individuals in the area.
• Community Focal Point is a rich variety of programs and activities which foster fellowship and support healthy independent living for older persons. Exercise and weight-training classes are provided and educate patrons on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle as they age.

Less than half, 37% actually, of the Higginsville Senior Center funding comes from federal or state grants. A total of 27% comes from senior contributions for services. The remaining 36% must come from volunteer in-kind dollars and money raised from the community. The Higginsville Senior Center works hard to provide meals for all the homebound in the area. Home-delivered meals have increased from 9,400 meals in 1997 to 9,600 this year. The total cost for the home-delivered meal is $5.10 while the current home-delivered meal average contribution is $1.76.

The funds we will receive from the Dancing With The Stars - Higginsville Style event will be used to purchase the weight and exercise equipment we are currently leasing. Other funds that exceed this need will be used to supplement other programs. This event is such a blessing to our organization and provides the necessary funds we need to continue to provide quality programs for our community's elderly.

Higginsville Community Center

Project: Stage Improvements

The Higginsville Parks and Recreation department recently entered into a lease with Higginsville Senior Center Incorporated to maintain and manage all phases of the Higginsville Community Center . Care Connections Inc. who leases the Dining Hall from the Parks Dept. manages the Seniors Meal on Wheels program and hosts a lunch for local citizen's daily, Monday through Friday. The Higginsville Parks and Recreation Director, Brian Welborn serves as a member of the Senior Center Finance Committee that currently administers the Youth Opportunities Program Tax Credits. Any individual and/or business who wish to donate money to the project will receive a 50 % State Income Tax Credit. The purpose of raising money through this program is to provide the necessary renovations to the facility that will allow for additional youth programs. To this date, there have been several projects completed, including the gym renovations, additional restrooms, fitness room addition, and several new HVAC units have been added to the facility. One final phase of construction will include the addition of a youth room and a newly renovated locker room.

The Higginsville Community Center has been selected to receive funds from one of the Higginsville Dancing with the Stars show. Funds received from the show will be placed into a reserve fund to assist in continuing the YOP renovations. If you have any questions or would like more information on how to reserve the Higginsville Community Center for your next event, please don't hesitate to call the Park Office at 584-7313.

Higginsville Theatre Company

Project: Portable Sound System and Wireless Microphones

Once upon a time, the original members of the almost-10-years-inactive HIGGINSVILLE THEATRE COMPANY called a meeting to decide how to disburse their remaining funds and disband forever. However, a few of the next generation theatre lovers got wind of their plans. The new HIGGINSVILLE THEATRE COMPANY arose, like a phoenix from the ashes, in 2007 with the blessing and seed money from the original HTC members.

Our mission is to strive for excellence in the performance and technical aspects of theatre and to spread an appreciation for the arts. We're just stretching our wings but will be up and soaring soon! Our hope is to live up to the high standards that the original HTC have set.