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Samuelsen

Karen Samuelsen, an assistant professor in research evaluation measurement and statistics in the University of Georgia’s College of Education, is asking for your donation to a worthy community cause. And she’s willing to dance for it.

Samuelsen is one of eight candidates in the People’s Choice Contest, a summer fundraiser for the local charity, Project Safe. The two candidates with the most donations in their names will win slots in the 5th annual “Dancing with Athens Stars” show at the Classic Center on April 1, 2012.

Project Safe is a local, nonprofit organization that works to end domestic violence by providing shelter, counseling, education, advocacy and other services to women and children who have been abused.

The easiest way to donate is through Project Safe’s website at www.project-safe.org/Dancing-with-the-Athens-Stars.html. Scroll down until you see “People’s Choice Contestant 8: Karen Samuelsen.” Click on the “Donate” button underneath. Then follow the instructions on the next page.  Donations can also be sent through the mail to Project Safe, P.O. Box 7532, Athens GA 30604. Make sure that you put Samuelsen’s name and/or Contestant 8 on the check memo line! The contest closes at midnight Aug. 31, 2011.

People’s Choice contestants are nominated by community members for their contributions to Athens and the people around them. Samuelsen was nominated “for the valuable work she does for the University of Georgia and improvement of education across the country.”

“Essentially what I need to do is raise money to prove that I’m enough of a star to be on DWTS between now and the end of August,” said Samuelsen.

At the end of the voting period, Project Safe will determine the winners based on total votes received/dollars raised and how many different people voted for each contestant.

The funds that are raised will go directly to support Project Safe’s work with battered women and children (and their pets) in the Athens community.

“I’ve loved watching Dancing with the Stars and so this seemed like it would be fun.  Also, this benefits Project Safe, which I think is a great charity,” said Samuelsen. “I want to thank everybody in advance for helping me to make it onto the show. My husband thinks it would be cool to organize an event where everyone makes a night of it and roots me on.  As he says, it would be fun to go see the show because ‘we’d have a horse in the race.’ While I don’t love his metaphor, I do think it would be a great night out for a great cause.”