Jan 24, 2015 4 min read

“Washington’s Got Talent” is more than a talent show. It’s a way for the community to come together and give back to local youth.

At least one contestant this year is taking her talent one step further. Trinity Middle School eighth-grader Zoe Wise plans to give any winnings she receives to the family of a child with cancer. She understands how difficult it can be to watch someone suffer from cancer.

“I feel really strongly about it,” she said. “I know a lot of people who have had cancer and been taken from it.”

She will dance to “The Fault in Stars,” by Troye Sivan. The movie of the same name is about young people with cancer.

The event is the only fundraiser for Washington Health System Teen Outreach. “Washington’s Got Talent” Producer Amy Podgurski-Gough said the goals are to raise money, encourage art and show the talent of youth. That makes the program the perfect fundraiser for the community, empowering young people and highlighting the talent in area schools.

“They come together to do something remarkable. That’s an amazing feat,” she said.

Ten of the 14 area schools will be represented at the show this year. The number increased from last year, which Podgurski-Gough said brings her “such joy.”

The 10 schools represent a diverse pool of talent.

“The group of kids we have this year is diverse, full of energy and very high-spirited,” she said.

Fort Cherry Junior High School dancer Katie Nemec said she was the first person to try out from her school, and auditioned on a whim.

“I was never expecting to actually come here,” she said.

Chartiers-Houston High School student Jordan “JWebb” Webb will perform an original rap song, “Island.”

“It’s about me, staying in my own zone, just chilling,” he said.

Fort Cherry High School senior Isabel Descutner said she loves being able to affect people with her singing.

“Sometimes, words aren’t enough,” she said.

Washington High School senior Jacob Fonner said he is proud to represent his school with singing, and that he will be a Prexie for life.

“I know for a fact that Prexies die hard,” he said. “They don’t mess around.”

Bethlehem-Center High School senior Jakob Nyswaner said he learned to play guitar from playing Guitar Hero. His mom took him to buy a real guitar.

“I was playing ‘Crazy Train’ the next day,” he said.

Other acts include musician duo Anthony D’Orazio and Jonathan “J-Flo” Florian from Trinity High School, “bone-breaker” and street dancer Donte Gregg from Chartiers-Houston High School and dancer Julia Bodnar from California Area High School. Singers include Brianna King from Canon-McMillan High School, Sage Sneith from Bentworth Middle School, Gabrielle Zacharia from Peters Township, Michael Lucas from Washington High School, Rachel Bedillion from Avella High School, and singing duo “Twice As Nice,” featuring Washington High School students Hailey Duncan and Tamairra Bunge.

The fundraiser’s focus this year is on a child abuse prevention program, “Inside Out: Your Body Is Amazing Inside and Out and Belongs Only To You,” designed by Podgurski-Gough’s mother, Mary Jo Podgurski.

The program teaches children how to recognize and report abuse through body-positive, empowering teaching programs.

“What’s going on in our culture is showing us that that’s what is needed,” she said.

She said the goal is for the program to become the standard nationwide. So far, Trinity and Washington school districts are using the new program.

“We need to get it in the county first,” she said.

”Washington’s Got Talent” will be he held at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 31 at Trinity High School. Advanced tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for youth and can be purchased at www.washingtonsgottalent.com or by calling Teen Outreach at 724-222-2311. Tickets sold at the door will be $15 for adults and $10 for youth.