Orphans benefit from DHS senior teaming up with 610 Stompers

Courtesy Photo

Members of the 610 Stompers, including (L-R) David Toso, Alan Staub, Alfred Richard and Ricky Weibelt pose with Destrehan students Kelly Staub and Courtney Cribbs.

A few members of the all-male dance troupe boasting the slogan "ordinary men, extraordinary moves" gathered at Cypress Lakes Country Club last Saturday to help in a fundraiser for Destrehan senior Kelly Staub’s senior project.

Staub’s benefit involved raising funds for Camp Jake Richard, a summer camp for disabled orphans living at Vincent’s Center for Handicapped Children in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

A featured part of the evening was an auction of paintings by Haitian artist JoJo who was the first child admitted at St. Vincent’s at the age of three after being born with no arms and only one leg. JoJo paints using only his mouth, feet and by attaching paint brushes to his upper arm. His paintings were well-received by bidders during a silent auction and raised a total of $275. The three paintings that sold went to Destrehan residents.

Kelly’s father Alan Staub, also known under Stomper alias as Emile Shababawitz, is a charter member of the organization that has appeared at charity events throughout southeast Louisiana in addition to making national appearances on the Tonight Show and at last year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

"At first I was going to have him do a dance number, but there really [wasn’t] enough of them," Kelly said.

"There [would] only be four of us out there so that would [have been] really lame," Alan said.

The Stompers instead sold signed copies of their 2012 calendars with all proceeds going towards the benefit. In all the fundraiser was able to raise $300 for the camp.