The stars were out in November as the Atlantic Area CASA hosted its fifth annual Dancing with the Stars of the Coastal Empire Kickoff.

Kristin Bryant, Kathy Villafane, Justin Frasier, Nina Dean, Beate Wickham, Anton Green and Karen Bell were announced as returning all-star dancers. They will be partnered with a professional dancer to compete in the March 3 Dancing with the Stars of the Coastal Empire event at the Liberty County Performing Arts Center.

The annual fundraiser was inspired by the television show as an entertaining way to bring awareness about the Atlantic Area CASA and to raise funds that support its volunteer recruitment program.

This year’s event has a campaign goal of $20,000.

Executive Director Petula Gomillion said, "The most important thing is we are raising money and awareness for the most vulnerable children in our community, those who have been abused and neglected and placed in foster care."

CASA is a nationwide network of court-sanctioned, community-based programs that recruit, screen, train and supervise volunteers to advocate for children removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. Volunteers work with abused or neglected children, and as an independent source of information for judges who must decide their future.

Atlantic Area CASA is always recruiting volunteers.

"The challenge has always been and continues to be the recruiting and retaining of volunteers," Board member Debra Reed said. "Without the volunteers, there is no program, there is no effective way to service the individuals who need it the most. Sometimes a volunteer will go with a child and they will be the only constant that a child will have, so their willingness to be that voice for a child is priceless."

Anyone interested in volunteering or attending the annual dance competition, can find more information at www.atlanticcasa.org.