Company: Miller Street Dance Academy, Charlotte, NC, U.S.A.
Company Description: Miller Street Dance Academy was founded in 1994 with the aim of providing quality, tasteful dance instruction in a positive environment. Our goal is to cultivate young dancers into well-rounded individuals who have not only an appreciation for dance but who reach for high achievement in academics and community service, as well.
Nomination Category: Company/Organization Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Community Involvement Program of the Year

Nomination Title: Miller Street Dance Academy

Describe for the judges the activities and accomplishments of the nominated organization since the beginning of July last year (up to 525 words):

Miller Street Dance Academy houses over 2,000 students and 43 employees and seeks to instill in each of them a sense of philanthropic responsibility. In addition to dance instruction, Miller Street allows students to share their philanthropic passions with others through our service society. Each student is encouraged to host a community service project that the rest of the studio comes together to support.

Through our annual 'Penny Wars' competition, we encourage students to find creative ways to raise money for the African Christians Fellowship International (ACFI). This year alone, the dancers raised over $28,000.

In 2014 Miller Street raised over $11,000 for the Andrea Rizzo Foundation, or 'Drea's Dream'; a non-profit organization that provides dance therapy programs to children's hospitals. Due to their contributions to the Andrea Rizzo Foundation, Miller Street received the 2014 Dance Across America Award.

Miller Street is a partner with the Isabella Santos Foundation, a non-profit organization that raises money for children's hospitals and cancer research. Isabella Santos was a Miller Street student. Miller Street was a sponsor of the 2014 Isabella Santos Foundation 5k to Cure Kids' Cancer.

Each year Miller Street has a Susan G. Komen Foundation Race for the Cure team that walks in the Charlotte, NC Komen Race for the Cure. Breast cancer awareness and support is a cause that is dear to our hearts. Each October many different students’ service projects support this cause. Some examples from previous years have been handmade breast cancer awareness decorated headbands that are sold with the proceeds going to cancer research, and pink bows made to decorate bags, mailboxes and cars.

Michelle Rogers, the owner of Miller Street Dance Academy, is a 2014 'Circle of Hope' award recipient- an award that is reserved for cancer survivors to continue to spread the hope of recovery to others through community service. This award is presented by the Kid's Artistic Revue in California. Michelle will receive a $2,500 endowment to pass along to the charity of her choice.

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Provide a brief biography of the person or persons who lead the nominated company (up to 125 words):

Michelle is the owner of Miller Street Dance Academy, which is home to more than 2,000 dancers. She has won many state and national awards for choreography, and is the teacher the current Teen Miss and Mr. Dance of America. She is a Member of Carolina Dance Masters, Dance Educators of America, Dance Masters of America and USA Gymnastics.

Other honors include being named one of the 2011 Top 50 Influential Area Women by Mecklenberg Times, a 2005 Leading Link Ladies by Charlotte Radio Station 107.9, chosen as the winner of The Business Journal’s “40 Under 40? Business Leaders, and a finalist for the 2006 and 2007 Channel 9 “Nine Who Care” award.

Choose one (even if both apply):

The CEO (or other principal manager) of this company is a woman, and at least 40% of the management team is comprised of women.