Well-known community leader Shaune Moloney has Ballarat Clarendon College staff and students as a powerful support behind his new-found dancing campaign.
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The co-head of middle school and former North Ballarat Roosters captain is one of ten local identities participating in the Ballarat Foundation's fundraising event Dancing With Our Stars.
Mr Moloney's middle school students showed their support for the cause on Friday, with a fundraising bake sale and gold coin donation to participate in a dance-a-thon on the school oval.
The year five to eight students raised more than $1300 on Friday to help the Ballarat Foundation break the cycle of disadvantage in Ballarat.
"The Ballarat Foundation as Ballarat's leading charity is uniquely Ballarat and cares for Ballarat kids," Mr Moloney said.
"The Ballarat Foundation assists with school readiness. Our students recognise the importance of this and support it."
More than 40 students baked for the fundraising sale on Friday which set an excited and energetic tone for the middle school dance-a-thon.
Students joined teachers on the school oval to learn dances instructed by new dancing star Mr Moloney.
Watch Mr Moloney lead the students to do the 'Hokey Pokey'.
Year eight community service leaders Shriya Patel and Alice Svensson-O'Shea prepared the students for the fun day by researching and presenting information about the Ballarat Foundation's work, including efforts to eliminate food insecurity in Ballarat.
"We want to get the school to understand our community and what we can do to help," Ms Svensson-O'Shea said.
Community members can show their support for Mr Moloney or their favourite 'star' by voting online. A $1 donation is one vote and equals one entry to win a diamond ring valued at $22,400.
The dancers will perform at a gala evening on June 22 at Civic Hall.
Visit ballaratfoundation.org/dwos/ for more information and to vote.
The purpose behind the glitz and glam
The Ballarat Foundation is aiming to raise $100,000 through its biggest community fundraising effort yet - Dancing With Our Stars.
The philanthropic organisation's purpose is to unite community to break cycles of disadvantage.
[Ballarat Foundation chief executive Matt Jenkins reads to children at Begonia Festival to promote the Ballarat Reads program. Picture: Adam Trafford]
Ballarat Foundation chief executive Matt Jenkins reads to children at Begonia Festival to promote the Ballarat Reads program. Picture: Adam Trafford
"Regardless of circumstance or background no one person should be devoid of opportunity," the foundation's purpose statement reads.
"The causes of entrenched disadvantage are complex and no single organisation can solve these issues alone. We need to work together to achieve change."
The Ballarat Foundation's four key focus areas are school readiness, youth success, housing security and food security.
READ MORE: Ballarat Foundation's big community impact
In December the organisation estimated it delivered around $700,000 worth of community value throughout 2018.
Last year the foundation raised more than $65,000 to address food insecurity, with an additional $5 million state government investment for Foodbank hub in Ballarat announced in the lead up to the November election.
Four new events contributed to the momentum behind action on food insecurity; the Chairman's Lunch, Art for a Cause, Food for Thought and Run for a Cause as well as the launch of the Feed Ballarat campaign - and now in 2019 Dancing With Our Stars.
The foundation gifted $96,000 in grants to more than 20 community organisations, donated 6000 books through the Ballarat Reads program and distributed $10,000 in vouchers to assist vulnerable families with back to school vouchers last year.
More than 90 young learner drivers were given the opportunity to gain more than 3500 hours towards their license through the foundation's L2P program and 36 young drivers graduated from the program.
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