Love Wins: Dueling Disco Raises More Than $104,000 for Local Children and Families

Music, costumes, laughter, and disco fever filled Shenandoah Valley Golf Club during the Hike Kidz Foundation’s 2nd Annual Dueling Disco, but beneath the sequins and dance battles lay a deeper purpose: helping local children and families.

By the end of the evening, the event had raised $104,857, surpassing last year’s total of $101,442 and helping provide two donated vehicles through Cars Changing Lives.

The event embraced this year’s theme of “No Rules & Two of Everything,” featuring two mystery judges, two vehicle giveaways, surprise performances, and one consistent message repeated throughout the night:

“Love Wins.”

Opening the evening, Hike Kidz Foundation President Amber Veithenthal thanked the crowd of sponsors, volunteers, businesses, and supporters gathered for the fundraiser.

“Tonight we’re incredibly grateful to be surrounded by so many generous sponsors, community leaders, volunteers, supporters, and friends who continue to believe in the mission of the Hike Kidz Foundation,” Veithenthal said. “Your support makes a direct impact on the lives of local children and families right here in our communities.”

She reminded attendees that while the evening was designed to be entertaining, every dollar raised carried a larger purpose.

“This evening may be filled with music, laughter, dancing, and fun, but behind every heart displayed back there tonight and every dollar raised is a very real purpose,” Veithenthal said. “We are gathered here to help provide clothing, essentials, and support for children in need while continuing the mission of the Hike Kidz Foundation to build brighter futures locally.”

Jean Plauger of Jean’s Jewelers, who helped co-host the evening, praised the community’s commitment to helping local children.

“When it comes to kids, we need to help our local children in any way we can,” Plauger said. “We will always support our children.”

Hike Kidz Foundation President Amber Veithenthal, left, stands beside co-founder Harmony Hike as Hike shares how her own childhood experiences helped shape the foundation’s mission.

One of the evening’s most emotional moments came during remarks from Hike Kidz Foundation co-founder Harmony Hike, who spoke publicly about struggles she experienced growing up in the same local school system the organization now serves.

“There comes a point where a child begins believing, ‘I’m different. My life is going to be hard, and I have to figure this out — but I don’t know how,” Hike said.

She explained that many students quietly carry burdens that affect confidence, education, and self-worth long before adulthood.

“When you change the belief system early on, you change the belief system for life,” Hike said.

Hike said the foundation’s approach is rooted in what she calls “creative development” — finding new ways to meet real community needs.

“We focus on creative development to fill our local gaps,” Hike said. “The disco and the hearts are examples of that. Whether we dance our way there or hold a precious painted heart, we are finding ways to reach these children and families.”

The organization works with Warren County Public Schools to identify students with the greatest needs through programs including Clothe the Kidz, Hold My Heart, Boxes of Basics, and the Grace Fund.

“Our goal is to give hope from an early age to unburden the worry so students are able to focus on school and enjoy the experience as they feel they have the same opportunities to thrive,” Hike said.

She also spoke about the emotional impact helping children can have on entire families.

“One thing I didn’t know as a child that I do now is the pain the parents are going through and the relief they get when they receive the help,” Hike said. “Helping a child extends relief into many lives.”

The evening also featured the official dedication of the Hold My Heart program and permanent art installation in honor of John and Joyce Marlow.

Front Royal Mayor Lori A. Cockrell, who introduced the dedication, shared that she was the first person to sponsor a Hold My Heart piece after Hike explained the program to her last year.

“When she explained how it would assist students who needed things, things that other kids might have but they didn’t, I listened, I reflected, I told her I loved the idea, and then I wrote a check,” Cockrell said. “I was the first person ever to sponsor a heart.”

Cockrell reflected on her own mother’s struggles growing up without the things other children had and how those experiences affected her education.

“When I think of what these hearts mean, I think about my mom,” Cockrell said. “I think about the student who wants to play a sport but maybe doesn’t have the right shoes or equipment. About the kid who wants to buy a yearbook and have it signed like all the other kids, but doesn’t have the money.”

Cockrell said the Hold My Heart program was always intended to become something lasting for the community.

“These hearts were never meant to be temporary,” Cockrell said. “They were meant to remain here as a lasting symbol of love, hope, and connection.”

She then announced the permanent dedication of the Hold My Heart program and art installation to the “timeless love of John and Joyce Marlow.”

Emily Marlow Beck speaks during the dedication of the Hold My Heart program and permanent art installation honoring the timeless love and community legacy of her parents, John and Joyce Marlow.

Their daughter, Emily Marlow Beck, emotionally reflected on her parents’ lives, their quiet generosity, and the importance of continuing to “show up” for others.

“My dad cared far more about doing good than he did about looking good,” Beck said.

She described how her mother’s own childhood experiences without basic needs shaped the couple’s desire to help others throughout the community.

“I often heard stories growing up about what it was like to not have the books or to not have the money or to have to navigate the emotions of what it’s like to not have what you need,” Beck said.

Near the end of her remarks, Beck shared a story from her time teaching at Ballou High School in Washington, D.C., when students once explained why her presence mattered to them.

“They said, ‘Well, Miss Marlow, you keep coming back,’” Beck recalled. “There’s so much power in showing up.”

“When I think about the hearts, that’s about showing up,” Beck continued. “That’s about coming back. That’s about being there for one another.”

Entertainment remained a major part of the evening.

The crowd erupted when mystery judge Dr. David Martin entered dressed as the Phantom of the Opera and performed alongside Kelly Wahl before introducing Cockrell as the evening’s second mystery judge, wearing a crown as the “Queen of the Judges.”

Hugh Henry celebrates with Jean Plauger after winning the 2026 Dueling Disco championship and finishing as the evening’s top fundraising Dance Hero.

Dance competitors battled through themed performances and fundraising challenges before Hugh Henry captured the 2026 Dueling Disco championship with an energetic “Jailhouse Rock” performance.

Henry reached the final round with help from an Advantage Card, earned through fundraising support from Jean Plauger, which allowed him to remove Amber Veithenthal from the final competition.

Henry also finished as the event’s top fundraising Dance Hero, raising $8,680.

The Top Four fundraising Dance Heroes included:

• Hugh Henry — $8,680
• Michael Walker — $8,266
• Amber Veithenthal — $7,565
• Ryan Rutherford — $4,535

Rutherford also helped provide one of the evening’s two donated vehicles through Cars Changing Lives by donating his late Uncle Tim’s Toyota Scion.

“He was actually a disco dance champion back in the ’70s,” Rutherford said. “So this is how he was able to help us out today.”

Another crowd favorite emerged during an impromptu “Worm-Off” dance battle that quickly became one of the evening’s most talked-about moments.

Jason Neale also drew applause after once again donating his 50/50 raffle winnings back to Hike Kidz Foundation after previously doing the same during the Fire & Ice Gala earlier this year.

By the end of the evening, organizers said the event demonstrated what can happen when an entire community rallies together around local children.

“Every single donor and volunteer, caregiver and partner is changing a life right now,” Hike said. “Together, love wins — and this community is proving it every day.”

Applications, volunteer opportunities, donations, and Hold My Heart sponsorship information are available through the Hike Kidz Foundation website.