Oldies Dance Group raises $8,750 for Ronald McDonald House

By Ed Pierce

Never let it be said that those who appreciate Rock n’ Roll music could care less about others. As evidence of that, the Oldies Dance Group’s Benefit Dance last fall set records once again in raising money for the Ronald McDonald House of Portland.

The dance raised $8,750 to donate to the Ronald McDonald House and sold 356 tickets in just 10 days leading up to the event at the Eagle’s Hall in Biddeford last October.

Members of the Oldies Dance Group donate proceeds from 
last fall's dance to the Ronald McDonald House of Portland.
From eft are Debora Berry; Gail Cole; Diane Dubois; Bruce 
Martin, Elvis Presley; Ronald McDonald House Chief
Executive Officer Julie Mulkern; Ray Gagnon; Ian Tovell;
Katherine Russo; and Janet Sparkowich. Not shown are
Old Dance Group members Roger and Bonnie Ouellette;
Michelle Mondor; Connie O'Rourke; Ed and Nancy Pierce;
Ernie Mills; and Helen Vadnais.  SUBMITTED PHOTO  

This was the 24th Rock n’ Roll Oldies Benefit Dance and to date, the Oldies Dance Group has raised $124,498 on behalf of the Ronald McDonald House, which provides comfort for the families of pediatric patients and supports programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children and enables family centered care to ensure that family members are fully supported and actively involved in their child’s care.

“Our organizing committee is simply blown away by the generosity of those who attend our dances every year,” said Bruce Martin, Oldies Dance Group organizer. “We have been doing this for 17 years and are so grateful to be the biggest community fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House of Portland during that time. We cannot thank everyone who has attended the dances through the years and to all of those individuals and businesses who have shown their commitment to assisting sick children and their families served by this wonderful facility.”

Martin said many come out to the dances to listen to Rock n’ Roll music, dance, socialize with their friends and a side benefit is that the dances support the fundraising mission of the Oldies Dance Group.

“We’ve said this for years and it’s true. People love rock n’ roll music and dancing,” he said. “And the amount of money that we’ve raised demonstrates how much people in our community value and care about their community and their neighbors.”
More than 71 businesses and individuals made donations for the October dance and Martin said it shows their commitment to the mission of Ronald McDonald House of Portland.

He said that the Oldies Dance Group also thanks Coach Kaitlyn Cadorette and a contingent of high school cheerleaders for their invaluable assistance in setting up tables and chairs ahead of last fall’s dance.

Martin said that the Rock n’ Roll Oldies Dances remain wildly popular because Rock n’ Roll continues to connect generations of music fans and the dance playlist includes songs that everybody knows and loves from the 1950s through the 1980s and a few other popular tunes.

“We say that it’s a great night out to have fun, listen to songs you know the words to by heart and at the same time you’re doing something to support a great cause,” Martin said. “We are always looking for committee members who want to help.”

The next Rock n’ Roll Oldies Benefit Dance will be the 25th dance hosted by the Oldies Dance Group and will be held from 7 p.m. to midnight Saturday, April 19 at the Eagle’s Hall, 57 Birch St., Biddeford. Tickets are just $10 and sell out quickly as seating is limited.

For further details, or to purchase tickets or to volunteer, please call Bruce Martin at 207-284-4692. <