This year, the Florida Fun Mini Match is committed to giving back to our community, and we chose Hands to Love as the organization we can support together.

ABOUT HANDS TO LOVE

Hands to Love is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children born with upper limb differences and their families. Each year they host Hand Camp, a powerful 3-day program that provides:

Peer support for children with limb differences
Workshops, adaptive activities & therapy-based programs
Parent support groups and family networking
Confidence-building, skill-building, and community
A safe, joyful place where “difference does not equal disability”

Their programs are funded 100% by donations, allowing more than 70 families each year to attend at very low or no cost.

Your Mini Match charity goal:
→ Raise funds so more children can attend Hand Camp in 2025 and 2026.
→ Help spread awareness in the dance community.

How You Can Help

🔷 HOW THE DANCE COMMUNITY CAN HELP (3 WAYS)
1️⃣ Silent Auction Participation

Two ways to help:

A. Donate Items to the Silent Auction

B. Place Bids at the Silent Auction

All bids at the Florida Fun Mini Match go directly to Hands to Love.
This is an easy way for dancers, families, and spectators to support the cause.

2️⃣ Become a Sponsor

(These levels apply to:
• Florida Fun Mini Match Sponsor or
• Direct donation to Hands to Love)

3️⃣ Dance Open Scholarship Division: “Hands to Love" Am/Am and mix Pro/Am (Cha Cha, Rumba & Swing )

Proposed description:

During the Florida Fun Mini Match, we will host a special scholarship category — Cha Cha, Rumba & Swing — dedicated to Hands to Love.
All entry fees from this category will be 100% donated to the organization.

Meet Craig Acton

Craig Acton was born with a congenital limb difference known as “club hands,” which means his wrist bones formed differently and he has limited wrist movement and shorter arms. Growing up, Craig didn’t have access to programs that connected him with other children who looked like him or understood his daily challenges. This is why Hands to Love holds such a special place in his heart—because it provides exactly the kind of support he wishes he and his family had when he was young.

Today, Craig volunteers as a counselor at Hand Camp, where he works directly with children and families facing similar experiences. For the last two years, he has seen firsthand how much confidence, joy, and hope this organization brings. His personal journey gives him a deep understanding of the impact Hands to Love makes and why our dance community’s support truly matters.

Beyond his advocacy work, Craig is an active member of our ballroom community. Dancing has given him confidence, friendship, and a sense of belonging. It allows him to celebrate movement on his own terms, proving that dance is for every body. He trains at Ballroom Dance Academy, participates in shows, and continues to grow in technique and expression—adapting styling to his unique strengths and inspiring many around him.

Craig is helping us lead this year’s charity initiative because he represents exactly who Hands to Love serves: children who grow into strong, confident adults when they have the support and community they deserve. He will be reaching out to local businesses for sponsorships, sharing his story, and helping us make this year’s Florida Fun Mini Match a meaningful event for families who need it most.

His honesty, lived experience, and commitment make him the perfect ambassador for this project—and we are honored to have him on our team.