What do a radio personality, a Patriots running back and the district director for Congressman Jim Langevin have in common? They’ll all be trading their work shoes for dancing shoes on April 30 when they compete in the third annual Dancing with the Stars of Mentoring fundraising event at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet.

The event runs from 5:30 to 9 p.m., includes dinner, an auction – and, of course, dancing – and benefits the Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership (RIMP), which serves 4,400 students through its three offices and partner programs throughout the state.

“It is our premiere event. It’s going to be a whole lot of fun,” says Arlene McNulty, president and CEO of RIMP.

Seven community leaders, some of whom are mentors and others who just support the organization, are paired with dance instructors from the Dancin’ Feelin’ studio on Pettaconsett Ave. in Warwick.

“It’s a lot more work than I ever anticipated it would be,” confessed Ken Wild, the district director for Congressman Langevin.

Together, the pairs have been rehearsing for more than three months leading up to the event, which will be co-chaired by New England Patriots defensive lineman Jarvis Green and past event champion Peter Koch, CEO of Koch Eye Associates. Green will have the chance to see his teammate Sammy Morris take the floor as well, when he competes with veteran participant Deb O’Donnell, who has been with Dancin’ Feelin’ for 16 years.

Her experience – and that of the seven studio volunteers – has proven to be invaluable for the dancers, most of whom have never taken formal dance instruction before.

“This is my first time dancing, ever,” said NBC 10 sports anchor and mentor Joe Kayata. “I’m not a dancer – I’m a sports guy.”

Kayata’s dance partner, Amanda Cardeira, has participated in the fundraiser every year so far and said she is impressed with his progress.

“He actually has a very aggressive routine so he’s doing an incredible job,” she said.

Cardeira and her co-workers are used to performing for a crowd but for their novice partners, nerves are starting to set in.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t [nervous],” Wild said.

“I’m sure I will be that night,” agreed Kayata. “I’m used to speaking in front of people but this is completely different.”

Kayata and Wild agreed that the cause is worth the nerves, however, and Kayata in particular understands what the event is worth to students across Rhode Island. A mentor to a fifth-grader in Woonsocket, he said he often encourages friends and colleagues to volunteer their time through the program.

“I always tell them it’s only an hour a week of your time so if you have time to do it you should,” he said, adding that he has seen a change in his mentee’s grades and attitudes over the past two years. “I love it because you can see what you do that really helps the kids. I can tell how much that kid has grown.”

Those results are not atypical. McNulty explained that in Warwick and Woonsocket, 53 percent of kids improved in reading, 52 percent in writing and 49 percent in math from just one hour a week.

“It’s a win-win both for the mentor and the mentee,” she said.

With last year’s event attracting 550 guests, the Partnership is hoping to rake in similar numbers – and dollars. Last year’s fundraiser brought in $68,000 and despite money being tight, McNulty and her team are hoping to raise $75,000 and have already sold over 200 tickets at $60 a pop.

“With the economy the way it is, it’s been a little more challenging this year, but I think we can make $75,000,” she said.

Wild is shooting to raise $3,000 alone and is close to the halfway mark, due in large part to an e-mail he has been circulating to family, friends and colleagues in state and city government. The e-mail, which links to his personal fundraising Web site, says, “I know sex sells, so I’ve included a naked picture of me.” To drum up even more attention, the response of Mayor Scott Avedisian is included, claiming to come from the Personnel Director of the city.

“Mayor Avedisian went home on stress leave yesterday after reporting that there were naked photos of a former member of the Warwick City Council in his e-mail system.”

Visitors to the page will be disappointed if they were expecting Wild to come through on the promise, though –the photo on his page is an innocuous shot of Ken in the pool with his three grandchildren.

Another goal of Dancing With the Stars of Mentoring is to draw attention to their cause and recruit mentors. With many Rhode Islanders getting laid off and others fearful of job security, retaining mentors has been difficult but the Partnership continues to look for new volunteers.

“It doesn’t take a lot of professional skills. The ideal mentor is someone who really cares about a child and really wants to just give back to the child and the community,” McNulty said.

Volunteers through the Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership go through a brief training period and must provide references and undergo a criminal background check. On the application, they are also given the chance to specify what age and gender mentee they are looking for, as well as if there is a school nearby they’d like to work in.

“We take the mentors’ needs and interests into account,” McNulty noted.

With only a few weeks to go until the event, the dancers are getting down to business and Cardeira said she thought the audience would be entertained by the variety of routines. That doesn’t mean she’s not looking for a victory, though.

“We’re in it to win it,” she said, as fellow instructor and Wild’s partner Rachael Capodanno stood nearby.

“Piece of cake,” Capodanno said of her chances.

Wild, on the other hand, is trying to fly under the radar despite the hours of hard work he’s put into the competition.

“You try to be stealth,” he said, implying that the dancers and the crowd will have to wait and see who comes out on top. “It’s like any sport – you don’t put the opposition on notice.”

Also participating in the competition are Lite Rock 105 radio host Heather Gersten of the Jones and Heather Morning Show, City of Providence License Administrator Serena Conley, People’s Credit Union Member Relationship Manager Courtney Hunter and comedic personality Miss Kitty Litter. Competing from Dancin’ Feelin’ are Randy Deats, David Endicott, Giancarlo Costa and James Valkoun.

Reservations for the event can be made online at www.mentorri.org/events.htm or by calling the Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership at 732-7700. Tickets are $60 per person, including dinner. Full table reservations are also available.