For Max Johnson, stepping onto the dance floor is about much more than learning the right moves. It’s about standing up for a community he loves and helping ensure everyone in Orange County has access to compassionate, affirming healthcare.
A lifelong Orange County resident and proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, Max knows that living authentically can sometimes require courage.
His own journey has included moments of uncertainty and self-doubt, along with a desire familiar to so many people: to simply be seen, respected and valued for exactly who he is.
Those experiences are part of what makes his service on the Board of Directors of Radiant Health Centers so meaningful.
Why Radiant Matters to Max
For more than 40 years, Radiant Health Centers has been there for people throughout Orange County.
Today, Radiant is a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike (FQHC Look-Alike) providing compassionate, high-quality healthcare for all, with specialized expertise in LGBTQ+ affirming care and serving people living with and affected by HIV.
For Max, that mission is deeply meaningful.
Radiant represents a place where people can walk through the door knowing they will be welcomed and treated with dignity, compassion and respect—regardless of who they are, whom they love or their ability to pay.
That is why Max agreed to trade the boardroom for the ballroom and compete in Dancing With the Santa Ana Stars.
“I am dancing because I believe everyone deserves the opportunity to live a healthy, authentic life and to know they have a community standing beside them.” — Max Johnson
More Than a Dance
Learning to dance hasn't happened overnight.
Week after week, Max has been rehearsing, learning new steps, challenging himself and sharing the experience along the way. What began with excitement and a few nerves is becoming something more: a journey built on confidence, community and purpose.
Max's Road to the Dance Floor
Week 1 — Excited, Nervous and Ready to Dance
The journey begins! After his very first rehearsal, Max shares the excitement—and nerves—of taking his first steps toward the Dancing With the Santa Ana Stars stage.
Week 2 — Looking Good. Feeling Good. Dancing With Purpose.
When you feel good, you can focus on your purpose. Max announces his partnership with Joe Bananas, who is helping him look and feel his best as he prepares for the big night.
Week 3 — Bringing the Routine Together
Three weeks in, the pieces are beginning to fall into place. Max shares his excitement as the choreography takes shape and his performance moves one step closer to becoming a reality.
Week 4 — Feeling the Purpose in the Music
The steps are only part of the story. As music becomes part of the routine, Max begins connecting the performance to the deeper reason he's dancing: raising awareness and support for Radiant Health Centers.
Week 5 — The Whole Routine Comes Together
With the full routine mapped out, excitement is building. Max reflects on his progress—and on why raising funds for Radiant and the community it serves makes every rehearsal worthwhile.
Week 6 — Confidence, Energy and Momentum
The rehearsals are paying off. Max can feel his confidence and energy growing, and he's asking the community to help build something else, too: momentum toward his $25,000 fundraising goal for Radiant.
Week 7 — One Month to Go!
The countdown is officially on! With just one month until his dancing debut, Max is feeling both the nerves and the excitement—and there's still time to help him reach his fundraising goal and make every step count.
From purpose to performance: Follow Max’s journey to the dance floor as he raises awareness and support for Radiant Health Centers.
Every rehearsal brings Max one step closer to the Dancing With the Santa Ana Stars stage. And every step gives him another opportunity to raise awareness—and critical funds—for Radiant Health Centers.
Help Max Reach His Goal
Max has set an ambitious goal: raise $25,000 for Radiant Health Centers. Every gift helps Radiant continue providing compassionate healthcare and supportive services to people throughout Orange County, with a special focus on the LGBTQ+ community and people living with and affected by HIV.
So when you support Max, you're supporting much more than his journey onto the dance floor.
You're helping someone receive care.
You're helping someone feel seen.
You're helping someone know they aren't alone.
And that's something worth dancing for.
LEARN MORE ABOUT RADIANT HEALTH CENTERS →
For more information, contact Edwin Rivera-Cortez at
Join Us on the Dance Floor
Dancing With the Santa Ana Stars
Saturday, September 19, 2026
5:00 PM
Valley High School | Santa Ana, California
Come cheer Max on as he puts weeks of rehearsals to the test and dances for a healthier, more compassionate Orange County.
