Summer's Spotlight: Center for the Homeless hosting Dancing With Our Stars

The Center for the Homeless will be hosting their 16th-annual Dancing With Our Stars competition Friday, April 19. 

15 teams will be taking part in this year's event, which will be held at the Gillespie Event Center beginning at 6:30 p.m. EST. 

Each vote, which costs $45, funds one person's services at the Center for one day. 

Summer Horan spoke to two competitors, Art of Dance Warsaw's owner Matthew Smith and ABC57's own Jena Stopczynski, about the event this morning, and their long history together.

Stopczynski and Smith first danced together for Dancing With Our Stars in 2014, though they were never able to perform.

The final practice the night before the competition, Smith was injured. He was unable to compete the following day. Stopczynski danced with another partner, but they were devastated.

Fall of 2023, Stopczynski performed in the Center for the Homeless LipSync competition alongside ABC57 anchors Jennifer Copeland and Brian Conybeare. Stopczynski knew just who to ask to help with their routine.

Smith choreographed the ABC57 team's Barbie-themed routine. When he was reunited with Stopczynski, CFH Director Steve Camilleri asked them if they would like to give Dancing With our Stars another shot, 10 years later.

The answer was a very easy, yes.

A lot happened in those 10 years. Smith experienced homelessness himself for a brief time. That makes this year all the more personal for them both.

The Center for the Homeless has been combating homelessness in South Bend for 36 years and they have helped over 65 thousand people in need of assistance in the community. 

You can get more information about the event, and cast a vote for your favorite dancer, through Give Grove's website.