WVU Parkersburg President Torie Jackson and Vice President of Institutional Advancement Olivia Reeder perform Barbara Mandrell’s “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool” during the third annual Actors Guild of Parkersburg Lip Sync Battle Saturday night. First-, second- and third-place winners received $500, $300 and $200, respectively, for their chosen nonprofits. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

PARKERSBURG — The Actors Guild of Parkersburg hosted its third annual Lip Sync Battle Fundraiser Saturday night, bringing local celebrities and community leaders together to raise money for local nonprofits through an entertaining competition.

“This is really a fun event, because it’s all the people you see on TV or in the newspaper,” event spokesperson Sherry Wilson Braid said. “You’re not used to seeing them on stage, and they are up there competing for their favorite nonprofit.”

The fundraiser allows participants to showcase their performance skills without actually singing.

“I always remind them they don’t have to sing,” Braid said. “They can just do what they do every morning in the shower – pretend to sing like we see in movies.”

The competition featured a voting system where audience members could vote by placing cash in designated buckets during the event, with additional online voting available beforehand. Judges combined their scores with audience votes to determine the top performers.

Haley Hatfield and Treevee from the Humane Society of Parkersburg performed Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog” during the third annual Actors Guild of Parkersburg Lip Sync Battle Saturday night. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

Prize money will be distributed to the nonprofits of the performer’s choice, with the first-place winner receiving $500, second place $300 and third place $200. Contestants not in the top three received $50 for their chosen nonprofit.

First place went to Artsbridge, whose President-elect Jeff DeWitt, Executive Director Lyndsay Dennis and Community Outreach Coordinator Mary Smith chose to perform “Proud Mary,” with DeWitt taking on the lead role of Tina Turner.

“I ordered (my costume) online and ended up with the Tina Turner dress,” DeWitt said. “We met several times, and MJ (Mamo) actually did most of the choreography.”

DeWitt said this was a perfect opportunity for Artsbridge to show their commitment to arts education through creative fundraising and performance initiatives.

“To have the opportunity to further the arts, whether it be theater, visual arts, music, that’s what we do,” DeWitt said. “We’re here to educate, entertain and enrich.”

Artsbridge Executive Director Lyndsay Dennis, President-elect Jeff DeWitt and WVU Parkersburg President Torie Jackson prepare for the third annual Actors Guild of Parkersburg Lip Sync Battle Saturday night. First-, second- and third-place winners received $500, $300 and $200, respectively, for their chosen nonprofits. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

DeWitt said the organization runs 14 year-round programs spanning seven counties in Ohio and West Virginia and plans to use the $500 award where it would be most needed, potentially filling grant gaps or supporting specific program requirements.

Braid said the generosity of sponsors like Outback Steakhouse, Gran Azteca, Jimmy Colombo’s Italian Restaurant and One Community Federal Credit Union made the fundraiser such a success.

“One Community Federal Credit Union has been our sponsor for this event every single year,” Braid said. “The Actors Guild of Parkersburg is so thankful for their support.”

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com

WVUP President Torie Jackson gets feedback and praise from judge and former winner Margaret Hoschar during the third annual Actors Guild of Parkersburg Lip Sync Battle Saturday night. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

Lisa McCray, left, ReStore manager for Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Ohio Valley, performed “Mahna Mahna” with other Habitat representatives during the third annual Actors Guild of Parkersburg Lip Sync Battle Saturday night. First-, second- and third-place winners received $500, $300 and $200, respectively, for their chosen nonprofits. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

Haley Hatfield and Treevee from the Humane Society of Parkersburg performed Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog” during the third annual Actors Guild of Parkersburg Lip Sync Battle Saturday night. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

Representatives from the Wood County Society performed “This is Me” during the third annual Actors Guild of Parkersburg Lip Sync Battle Saturday night. First-, second- and third-place winners received $500, $300 and $200, respectively, for their chosen nonprofits. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

WVU Parkersburg President Torie Jackson and Vice President of Institutional Advancement Olivia Reeder perform Barbara Mandrell’s “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool” during the third annual Actors Guild of Parkersburg Lip Sync Battle Saturday night. First-, second- and third-place winners received $500, $300 and $200, respectively, for their chosen nonprofits. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

The Track 9 Band warms up the crowd Saturday night before the start of the third annual Actors Guild of Parkersburg Lip Sync Battle. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)