For the third year, The Box It Foundation presented Dancing with the Brokers (DWTB), where Chicago real estate and construction professionals faced off in a dance competition to raise money for charity. Each couple consisted of a CRE professional and a professional dancer from the country’s leading dance company, Arthur Murray. This year, the event raised $300,000 for various charities.
DWTB is designed after the premise of competition shows such as Dancing with the Stars and American Idol. A video with a brief biography precedes each couple’s performance, including information on the CRE professional’s company and the charity they are representing. The main event was held at Alhambra Palace in Chicago’s Fulton Market neighborhood on May 23rd.
Victoria Navarro, manager, planning and design at Advocate Health Care won the Philanthropist Award as she raised the most money for the event. She danced on behalf of Advocate Health Care Behavioral Health Services Program, which received $20,000. First place went to Andy Christensen, partner at Partners by Design, who secured $20,000 for Greater Chicago Food Depository. Jake Domina, business development manager at Power Construction won second place and $10,000 for Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 252. Finally, in third place was Tony Coglianese, an associate at CBRE raising $7,500 for the Michael J. Fox Foundation.