Standing up to cancer is one thing. Smacking the dread malady around the dance floor with a couple of high kicks and a joyful twirl puts an ironic, welcome spin on the battle.
Arthur Murray Grande Ballroom of Greenwich is doing just that, beginning Jan. 1 and running all month. For every dance lesson taken, principal Christine Georgopulo will donate $5 to Stand Up to Cancer, a national nonprofit that to date has raised more than $150 million for its cutting-edge mission.
Up the Connecticut Turnpike, a Stamford consultancy, CBP, matches her efforts in its own way. The two offer a pair of un-Scroogelike business models for the holidays and beyond.
Georgopulo”™s donations are part of the larger Entertainment Industry Foundation effort to help the cancer charity. Georgopulo noted the program money goes directly to research, with no administrative funds removed. With a bit of pride, she also noted Arthur Murray ”“ the man, not the business ”“ was the choreographic force behind many Hollywood dance classics for which the stars got the credit.
“I like Stand Up to Cancer for their aggressive methods and for their emphasis of collaboration,” Georgopulo said. “So many people I know are affected by cancer or know someone close who has been affected. This disease has got to be wiped out.”
Stand Up to Cancer is commonly referred to as SU2C. Five-hundred researchers currently work under its funding umbrella, including 26 researchers “who are doing high-risk projects with the potential for high reward in terms of saving lives.”
Most people begin a business to make money, of course, but Georgopulo had a second reason for opening her Arthur Murray studio on Lewis Street. “I wanted this business to be my vehicle for charity,” she said. As such, the ballroom is a partner in the Star Survivorship program, which began in Rhode Island and spread to neighboring states with an anticancer ethos of, in Georgopulo”™s words, “living, dancing and life after cancer.”
Stamford-based CBP, billed as “one of the tristate area”™s largest privately-owned consulting firms,” also offers a history of community service and dedication to making a difference for those in need.
Chris Peck, CEO of CBP, said, “We”™re proud to support many local nonprofits and their worthy causes. Between the struggling economy and recent storms, we recognize that there are a lot of people in need right here in our local community.” He called the spirit of giving and caring a significant component of the culture at CBP.
CBP has donated more than $30,000 in charitable and in-kind donations throughout 2013 and $75,000-plus across the past few years.
CBP supported classroom-supplies money for children at the Childcare Learning Center in Stamford, providing early childhood education and care programs for nearly 1,000 children annually.
Each Friday in October is designated a “Think Pink” day at CBP, leading to monetary donations to The Susan G. Komen Foundation.
CBP employee”™s have collected and donated nonperishable food to support Family & Children”™s Agency to feed local families in need through “Make a Difference Day” and through a Thanksgiving Food Drive.
CBP has supported Stamford-based Inspirica”™s holiday gift effort by sponsoring more than 40 children for holiday toy drives. Other efforts include clothing and food drives and a golf tournament benefitting UnitedHealthcare Children”™s Foundation. Other disparate efforts ”“ by no means inclusive ”“ include work with the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Fairfield County chapter, the professional association responsible for generating philanthropic support for a wide variety of nonprofit and charitable organizations. The regional ARC chapter FAVARH benefits from CBP generosity as does the Westport Rotary”™s annual lobster festival. And when the Ys of Darien and Norwalk got together for an antiracism walk, CBP was there to help. A total 27 regional organizations benefit regularly from CBP efforts.
Arthur Murray is also in the broader arena. Ticking off a list of causes that included health, nutrition, cancer, children and after-school activities, Georgopulo said, “We are very involved in the community and we are always thinking of ways to be additive and to give back.”
