Dance for Kids

File:D4K 2004 Group Shot.jpg

Group Photo 2004

Purpose

The purpose of Dance for Kids (colloquially referred to as "D4K") is to provide a semi-formal dance for teenagers with special needs in Yolo and Sacramento counties. Many of these teens do not have the opportunity to attend a prom or other formal event that other students do, and Dance for Kids seeks is an opportunity for them to have that experience.

The Event

Dance for Kids is run entirely by the chapter, generally through a committee, but occasionally chairs have decided to not hold a committee. Most terms have involved fundraising by the chairs (either events or grant writing) to fund the project. Many of the attendees come from the Davis Alternative Recreation Program.

All aspects of the event are managed by brothers: promoting the event to the community, registration, food preparation, entertainment, security, venue preparation and cleanup, and music. The event traditionally features dinner, live entertainment, and dancing. Some years have included prom-esque photography, as well.

History

Dance for Kids is an annual service project hosted in the Spring and was inspired by Christopher Takemori. The first annual Dance for Kids was held during Toy class, Spring 2004. In Fall 2003, Hancock class, the Service Vice President, Christopher Takemori had came across an application for the Youth Service Grant and came up with a fantastic idea. Christopher Takemori applied for the Youth Service Grant with the idea of Dance for Kids in mind. In Spring 2004, Service Vice President, Michelle Jaromay & Clayton Luu were notified that the Iota Phi chapter had recieved a Youth Service Grant in the amount of $500 and the first Dance for Kids was organized.

File:D4K 2004 Cooking.jpg

Cooking in the Kitchen

In 2007, thanks to the radness of Almira Van, Iota Phi received a Youth Service Grant from the national office to help fund the event!!

Venues

• 2004: Davis Senior Center
• 2005: Veteran's Memorial
• 2006: Veteran's Memorial
• 2007: Davis Senior Center
• 2008: Davis Senior Center
• 2009: Davis Community Church

Random Facts

• The entire chapter worked together under the direction of Service Vice President Michelle Jaromay & Clayton Luu and organized the very first Dance for Kids in only a month. Service-comm meetings were used to plan the event and allocate out responsibilities for different tasks.

• The 4th annual Dance for Kids hosted close to 30 kids from Stockton to Dixon in comparison to the 12 kids from Davis at the very first Dance for Kids.

Sample Menus

2004

• Starters:
  • Garlic Bread
  • Fresh Green Salad w/ ranch or Balasmic Vingerette
• Main course:
  • Spicy Chicken Alferdo w/ linguini.*
  • Penne Primavera (vegetiarian)
• Dessert
  • Cheesecake with a blueberry and chocalte sauce.
  • Jello Terine

• Sauce broke, and had to be changed to a spicy bolangese 20 minutes before servering.

2006

• Starters:
  • Bruchetta
  • Fresh Green Salad w/ ranch or Raspberry Vingerette, Wild rice, asperagus and broccoli
• Main course:
  • Beef Wellington with a spicy honey dijon sauce.
  • Chicken Picatta with a lemon caper sauce.
  • Stuffed manicotti with a cream of mushroom sauce and spicy 5-alarm sauce.
• Dessert:
  • Chocolate Gaunche Torte
  • Jello Terine
  • Fresh seasonal fruit with creme fresh
  • Rose water and poppy seed infused vanilla ice cream

Dance 4 Kids Chairs

Dance 4 Kids typically has a chair responsible for organizing the event every Spring. Previous chairs include the following:

• Spring 2004 Chris Takemori
• Spring 2005 Thuong Tang & Genie Le
• Spring 2006 Cedric Uytingco
• Spring 2007 (Mayen): Nhi Kiet
• Spring 2008 (Lipton): Isabella Pamatmat, Andrew Mayen, & Nhi Kiet
• Spring 2009 (Jaromay): Angela J Cheng
• Spring 2010 (Luong): Angela J Cheng