Meet this year's competitors for Gaston's Dancing for Future Stars

The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Gaston is gearing up to host its 14th annual Dancing for Future Stars event later this month, and the show is already sold out.

This year eight local celebrities, sponsored by community partners and donations, will work with professional choreographers to develop a dancing routine which will be performed at the Gaston Country Club on March 23.

Dancing for Future Stars is the organizations largest fundraiser of the year.

Who is dancing this year?

Vincent Cherry

“Cherry is the owner of Cherry Wealth Planning, an independent financial services firm in Belmont,” according to his biography.

He enjoys spending time with his wife, Tammy, their three very active children, Trey, Isaac and Allie, and their two dogs. Cherry is a Gastonia native and an alumnus of N.C. State University.

He serves as an elder at Living Hope Church, is a past-president of the Rotary Club of Gastonia, serves on the United Way of Gaston County board along with several other boards and committees in the area, the bio said.

Wes Dunaway

“Dunaway has called Gastonia home for a little over 3 years, but his love of the area was immediate,” his biography said.

He has lived in the Charlotte area for roughly 20 years, moving in 2004 after graduating from Georgia Tech.

Education and the constant pursuit of knowledge and improvement is at the core of Dunaway’s daily life, the bio said.

Dunaway is the vice president of preconstruction for MSS Solutions, a mechanical contractor headquartered in Charlotte. He and his wife, Erin (Hovis) own and operate three fitness studios in Charlotte.

William “Will” Ridgeway Jones

“Jones has called Gastonia, NC home for much of his life,” according to his biography.

Jones is a graduate of Gaston Together’s Civic Engagement Leadership (CEL) program and currently serves as a member of the Gaston County Education Foundation board.

Jones has always had a flair for sartorial arts. From an early age, Will has written, recorded and performed his own original music.

“He is very much looking forward to this challenge and the opportunity to benefit the lives of others, especially of those living in our community,” his bio said.

Lee Nester

“Nester is a proud Gaston County native who graduated as part of the first full graduating class from Highland Tech in 2004,” his biography said.

Lee currently serves on the Metro YMCA Board and the Next Generation Advisory Committee, while also coaching Anderson’s (his son) basketball team. He is an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Gastonia, serving on many committees, as well as serving as a past chair of the Diaconate.

“Although anxious, super nervous, and completely out of my comfort zone, I am beyond honored to be asked to be a part of the 2024 event and look forward to helping to raise a lot of money and having a ton of fun,” he said in his biography.

Jennifer Overcash

Overcash is the proud wife of her husband of 15 years, Senator Brad Overcash and mother of their two children, Anna Katherine (11) and Will (9). Originally born and raised in Carthage, Mississippi, she attended Ole Miss where she earned her Bachelors of Business Administration in Marketing, her biography said.

“Jennifer’s passions are focused on her family and faith. She is an active local leader and volunteer with Moms in Prayer State Board as Social Media Coordinator, Serenity Pastoral Counseling Board Member, and has served in many capacities in Community Bible Study, as well as First United Methodist Church in Belmont. She supports our local community by giving her time to Belmont Central PTO, Gaston County Republican Party, and many other charitable organizations,” her biography said.

Rose Planer

Planer is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, her biography said.

Planer, “has worked with many at-risk youth who depend on organizations such as the Boys and Girls Clubs for survival. For the last seven years, she served as a board member for the Jamie Kimble Foundation and collaborated with teens across Mecklenburg County to create an annual healthy dating relationships campaign in conjunction with Carowinds,“ her biography said.

Planer is a consultant for Hope United Survivors Network and is developing a youth healthy relationships project in Gaston County, and is also a board member of the Schiele Museum, serves as a committee member for the Backpack Weekend Fundraiser, is a member of the Gastonia Debutante Club, and is the author of two fiction novels, according to her biography.

Pressly Ramey

Ramey is the proud wife of six years to Derrick Ramey and mother to two daughters, Ella Grace (9) and Anderson Reese (3). She received her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Queens University of Charlotte and spent four years teaching in Gaston County before starting her career in real estate, her biography said.

Ramey enjoys spending time with her girls at their farm, on the lake and traveling.

“She loves to give back to the community and has spent much of her twenties doing so through her time with Gaston County Schools and other avenues, including Habitat for Humanity,” according to her biography.

Jenna Winters

“Winters is married to her Gaston Christian high school sweetheart and best friend of 19 years, Charles Winters,” her biography said.

While completing an internship with a non-profit organization after college, Winters realized quickly how small efforts make great impacts on people's lives. Serving and helping others has always been very important to her, her biography said.

“When she started in the mortgage industry in 2021, she never realized how God would use this as a way to position her with service opportunities,” the biography said. “(Winters) attends First United Methodist Church. Currently, she serves on the Warlick YMCA Board, serves on the 2024 Purse Power planning committee for United Way of Gaston County, served as co-chair for the Women Build 2023-Women Empowering Women event and the Hard Hats and High Heels event for Habitat for Humanity of Gaston County, and volunteers on Thursday mornings at Bountiful Blessings Food Pantry.”

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: 14th annual Gaston Dancing for Future Stars event is coming up