Page 2 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, JunE 21, 2024 Raising hope and raising the bar: Inside Phunk Phenomenon’s winning year By Dom Nicastro F or Saugus’ Reia Briggs-Connor, it’s been a stellar 2024 for her Phunk Phenomenon Dance Complex studio. A national championship and preparations for an international competition later this year are just part of the excitement. Oh, and don’t forget about their performances on the Boston Celtics dance fl oor during the NBA Finals this month. Good times for the studio? You bet. Briggs-Connor, a lifelong dancer from her early days in Chelsea to being a New England Patriots cheerleader and now a 25-plus-year dance studio owner in Everett, is nonstop and loving every minute of it. This is all in between her constant, unconditional care for her 19-year-old son, Jared, who has Sanfi lippo syndrome. This condition halts normal brain development and causes hyperactivity, sleep disorders, loss of speech, dementia and typically results in death before adulthood. Her dance studio leads a fundraising and awareness eff ort called “Hip Hop for Hope” to contribute to research and development in the healthcare community for Sanfi lippo syndrome. The fi ght for Jared and others like him is deeply embedded into the fabric of all that Briggs-Connor does within her studio and for her dancers. Some proceeds go to the fi ght to fi nd a cure for Sanfi lippo syndrome. “I don’t sleep,” Briggs-Connor 50 tells people when they ask how she does it. “It’s crazy. Everyone asks how we do it. Jared’s 19 now, which is really great because they told us he wouldn’t live that long. We’re constantly trying to raise awareness for his disease and our mission.” They’ve had a gig with the Celtics for most of the 21st century, performing routines a couple of times per night during The Phunk Phenomenon Dance Team are shown performing on the TD Garden parquet fl oor at halftime during Game 1 of the NBA Finals Celtics game against the Dallas Mavericks. (Courtesy Phunk Phenomenon) timeouts for two to three games per month. They performed in Games 1 and 2 of the NBA Finals, where her hometown Celtics beat the Mavericks, 4-1, clinching Banner No. 18, under which Phunk Phenomenon will perform next season. They also performed in early games of the Celtics’ dominating playoff performance, where they fi nished 16-3. DANCE TEAM | SEE PAGE 6 Need a hall for your special event? The Schiavo Club, located at 71 Tileston Street, Everett is available for your Birthdays, Anniversaries, Sweet 16 parties and more? For more info, call (857) 249-7882 Saving Should Be Easy. Everett Bank’s 24-Month CD Makes It Simple. Get a worry-free 5.0% APY 24-Month CD, the perfect solution to build your savings and watch it grow. If you need flexibility, our 24-Month CD even makes a great IRA option. Great rates and peace of mind all in one CD from Everett Bank. Visit EverettBank.com to open an account online today! There’s Every Bank. Then There’s *Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate of the date posted and is subject to change without notice. APY assumes the interest remains on deposit until maturity. A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. A minimum of $500 is required to open a Certificate of Deposit and earn the advertised APY. Member FDIC | Member DIF The Phunk Phenomenon Dance Team are shown performing at halftime during Game 1 of the NBA Finals Celtics game against the Dallas Mavericks. (Courtesy Phunk Phenomenon)
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