The Actors Guild of Parkersburg hosted its third annual Lip Sync Battle Fundraiser on Saturday night, bringing together local celebrities and community leaders for an evening of fun and philanthropy. The event aimed to raise money for local nonprofits through a lively, no-singing-required competition.
“This is really a fun event,” said event spokesperson Sherry Wilson Braid. “You see familiar faces—people from TV or the newspaper—but you’re not used to seeing them perform on stage. It’s exciting to watch them compete for their favorite nonprofit.”
A Fun Twist on Fundraising
The Lip Sync Battle allows participants to put on an entertaining performance without the pressure of actual singing. “I always remind them they don’t have to sing,” Braid explained. “They just need to do what they do every morning in the shower—pretend to sing, just like in the movies.”
The competition featured a voting system where audience members could cast their votes by placing cash in designated buckets. Additional online voting was available before the event, and judges combined their scores with audience votes to determine the winners.
Winners and Their Causes
The top three performers won prize money for their chosen nonprofits:
- 🥇 First Place ($500): Artsbridge – Performed “Proud Mary” with Jeff DeWitt, Lyndsay Dennis, and Mary Smith
- 🥈 Second Place ($300)
- 🥉 Third Place ($200)
All other contestants received $50 for their nonprofit.
Jeff DeWitt, President-elect of Artsbridge, took on the lead role of Tina Turner, fully committing to the performance. “I ordered my costume online and ended up with the Tina Turner dress,” DeWitt said with a laugh. “We met several times, and MJ (Mamo) actually handled most of the choreography.”
DeWitt highlighted that participating in the Lip Sync Battle was a perfect way to showcase Artsbridge’s mission of supporting arts education through creative fundraising and performance initiatives. “We’re here to educate, entertain, and enrich the community through the arts,” he said.
Artsbridge runs 14 year-round programs across seven counties in Ohio and West Virginia. The organization plans to use the $500 prize to fill grant gaps or support specific program needs.
Community Support Makes It Possible
The success of the event was made possible by generous sponsors, including:
- One Community Federal Credit Union (a sponsor since the event’s inception)
- Outback Steakhouse
- Gran Azteca
- Jimmy Colombo’s Italian Restaurant
“One Community Federal Credit Union has supported us every year,” Braid said. “The Actors Guild of Parkersburg is so thankful for their continued generosity.”
With another successful Lip Sync Battle in the books, the Parkersburg community once again proved that giving back can be both meaningful and fun.
