DANCE & DONATE. Diamond School of Dance students raised about $1.5K worth of school supplies for the annual We Care Eau Claire back-to-school event and cause. (Submitted photo)

Students at Diamond School of Dance in Eau Claire added a competitive twist to their summer dance program – for a good cause. During the dance school’s Summer Intensive program, teams of youth dancers participated in a weekly contest to raise money for and collect school supplies for We Care Eau Claire.

In just one week, the dancers raised about $1,500 worth of school supplies and collected more than 800 items to donate to the local cause.

We Care Eau Claire is a local effort that provides free back-to-school shopping experience annually ahead of the school season, aiming to serve underprivileged kids and families in the Eau Claire Area School District. Several area churches come together to organize the effort each year, this year’s event slated for Monday, Aug. 19, from 4-7pm at the Phoenix Park pavilion.

“This effort goes beyond the dance floor, teaching our dancers the importance of community service and the impact they can have in the lives of others,” said Alicia Knopps, owner of Diamond School of Dance. “We are incredibly proud of our students for their generosity and commitment to helping others.”

Diamond School of Dance is located at 2861 Mall Drive, Eau Claire • Learn more about We Care Eau Claire online