Presenting 2023 DWTSS Dancers Benji Johnson and Karlye Brooke Mainer. They are competing along with eleven other teams to win the 2023 Mirror Ball Trophy Judges Choice award and the Top Fundraiser award.
Dancing with the Statesboro Stars is a night of dancing and performances to raise funds and awareness for Safe Haven, the nonprofit organization that serves adult and child survivors of domestic violence in Bulloch and five surrounding counties.
The 13th annual Dancing with the Statesboro Stars presented by D&R Car Care will be held on Thursday, November 9, 2023 at 6:30pm and the encore show will be Sunday, November 12, 2023 at 3pm at the Connection Church.
Each day leading up to the event on November 9, 2023 we will introduce you to the 12 teams competing.
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS
CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW SELECT TEAM JOHNSON and MAINER
MEET BENJI JOHNSON
Benji Johnson is originally from Emanuel County and has lived and worked in Bulloch County for the past 17 years. He is a 2007 graduate of the Radiologic Sciences Program at Ogeechee Technical College and a 2022 graduate of Western Governors University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Healthcare Management degree.
He has worked at East Georgia Regional Medical Center for sixteen and a half years: beginning as a Radiologic Technologist for eight years, a Cath Lab Tech in the Cardiac Catheterization Lab for six years, Physician and Clinical Informaticist for a year and a half, and most recently, as the Director of Information Services.
Benji, along with his partner David, are the proud parents of an eight year old Daschund whose name is Eady Grace.
Benji enjoys home improvement projects, landscaping, and traveling. His favorite destinations are Maine and Ireland, both being tied for first place. He is extremely excited and humbled to be chosen to dance this year for such an outstanding organization and cause as Safe Haven.
MEET KARLYE BROOKE MAINER
Karlye Brooke is a 21 year old Statesboro native who graduated from Southeast Bulloch High School and is now majoring in Elementary Education at Georgia Southern. She is currently employed by Forest Heights Pharmacy and Statesboro School of Dance. Karlye is a member of First Baptist Church. In her spare time, she enjoys being with her family and friends.
Statesboro School of Dance (SSOD) is where she took dance lessons for 15 years under the instruction of Shay Morgan. At SSOD, she was trained in ballet, tap, and jazz. She has performed leading roles in The Nutcracker, Moana, and Aladdin. Karlye continues to teach dance at SSOD, and assists backstage at various dance shows. She has also been a part of teaching at the Boys and Girls Club for SSOD’s Faith in Motion where students from the club get to take dance classes each week and learn a dance to perform in the show.
Dance has always been a huge part of Karlye’s life, and she cannot wait to take the stage again for such a wonderful cause. Safe Haven has created such an incredible event that brings the community together, and she is so excited for the friendships and memories she has made, and will continue to make through participating in this event.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW SELECT TEAM JOHNSON and MAINER
About Safe Haven
Safe Haven is a program of Citizens Against Violence, Inc., a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) corporation. It is the emergency safe house for adult and child victims of domestic violence serving Bulloch, Candler, Effingham, Jenkins, Screven and Washington counties. Save Haven is open 24 hours per day/7 days per week. The length of time at the shelter is based on personal plans and progress towards independence.
There is no charge for services provided at the shelter which include:
- Access to a 24-hour crisis line
- Immediate, safe, emergency shelter
- Advocacy by knowledgeable, caring professionals
- Case management services
- Parenting classes
- Family safety planning
- Access to donated clothing and furnishings
- Transportation
- Legal Advocacy
- Childcare
- Community support
- Housing assistance
- Relocation services
