'Dancing with the Stars' Hits Local Communities, Charities

By John Franko
Staff Writer Pittsburgh Catholic
Images Courtesy of Chuck Austin

  Dr. Richard DeFilippo's enthusiasm is contagious as he walks into the Catholic Charities Free Health Care
Center in Downtown Pittsburgh.


    He trades greetings with everyone he sees and immediately takes stock of what is going on in the office.
He also points out the obvious. "God has always blessed me with a lot of energy," he said.

   DeFilippo will put that energy on display when he represents the health care center at the Fifth Annual
Dancing with the Celebrities of Pittsburgh Dance Competition May 5 at the Westin Convention Center
Hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh.The competition will benefit the Catholic Charities Free Health Care
Center and the Kiwanis Club of Pittsburgh.

   DeFilippo will partner with Yulia Zhukoff to perform an Argentine tango, a high‐energy dance that he
describes as "stylish passion and physical elegance." It was first made popular in the United States by
actor Rudolph Valentino. "Those who know me have never used the terms 'physical elegance' and 'style'
in the same sentence as Rick DeFilippo," he said with a laugh. "But I have great passion, and I'm relying
that one out of the three will get me through this."

   Each "celebrity" was interviewed and assigned a dance to meet their personality. Zhukoff and DeFilippo
try to rehearse once a week, depending on their schedules. DeFilippo mused that the meetings are
more like dance lessons, and he pointed out that he hasn't danced publicly since he was in the eighth
grade at the former SS. Peter and Paul School in Pittsburgh's East Liberty neighborhood. His
participation in the competition, he noted, stemmed from a pledge that he made to St. Jude some 35
years ago.

   "He opened the door for this and pushed me through ‐‐ with gentle and loving urging," he said.
DeFilippo added that he is leaving the performance in the hands of the Holy Spirit.
The dentist, who has a practice in Oakmont, volunteers at the Catholic Charities Free Health Care Center
one day a week. He is also a member of the center's board of directors.
He said those who work at the clinic are touched by the people they encounter, adding, "These are the
patients who traditionally have fallen through the cracks in society."

   A member of St. Mary of the Assumption in Glenshaw, DeFilippo recognized the efforts of his pastor,
Father John Marcucci. "He stimulates parishioners to get involved," he said.
DeFilippo said that while there will be "a lot of energy" at the May 5 event, there will still be a sense of
tension and apprehension that comes with any competition. But those who come, he added, will be
treated to a very entertaining evening.

   Also representing the clinic will be volunteers Jari Jariwala and Autumn Stewart, and Shannon Salicce,
dental manager. Other celebrities in the competition will include Heather Abraham and Bob Pompeani
of KDKA‐TV; Al Ambrosini, Fayette County commissioner; Julia Belechak, Miss Pennsylvania Teen USA
2012; Greg Gianotti of 93.7 The Fan; Christina Cochran of #1 Cochran; and Juliann Sheldon, Miss
Pennsylvania 2011. Mike Clark of WTAE, president of the Catholic Charities board, will serve as emcee.
The celebrities will be scored by three judges and the audience will be able to vote for its favorite
couple.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. For more information, call 412‐456‐6696, or visit
www.dancingwiththecelebritiesofpgh.org.

Also See More Interviews with the Stars at
http://www.ccpgh.org/document.doc?id=118