Northwestern University Dance Marathon
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Currently in its 34th year, The Northwestern University Dance Marathon is one of the world's largest student-run philanthropies. As one of the cornerstone traditions of the campus, Dance Marathon, or DM, brings together over 1,000 students, faculty, staff, and administrators in a thirty hour dance-a-thon. Students, serving as either dancers or committee members, fundraise all year to support its beneficiaries, culminating in an all-campus celebration weekend in the beginning of March. In addition to DM weekend, approximately 300 committee members organize special events throughout the entire year, such as basketball tournaments, date auctions, and trivia nights. DM now includes over 600 dancers, each couple raising at least $800 for the honor of dancing and thousands of student volunteers.
In addition, campus a capella groups, dance troupes, and student bands come to perform in various intervals to lend their support to the participants. Before the sunrise on Saturday morning, dancers are treated to a quick shower and foot massage to help reenergize them to finish the day. Beyond the Louis Room, Dance Marathon hosts events for all Northwestern students and nearby communities to enjoy during the weekend.
Each year Dance Marathon selects a primary and secondary beneficiary to receive the money collected after months of fundraising and 30 hours of dancing. During Dance Marathon, over 15,000 spectators visit the Norris University Student Center at Northwestern University, where Dance Marathon takes place, to support the dancers and to take part in events such as a carnival for children and a 5K run. These events are planned to involve community members from Northwestern, Evanston, Illinois and nearby communities in Dance Marathon. This community involvement fulfills DM's mission of uniting the Northwestern University campus and the nearby communities thorough education and philanthropic fundraising.
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[edit] History
More than thirty years ago, Dance Marathon, the philanthropic child of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and the Associated Student Government, was born on the Northwestern University campus.
Twenty-one couples danced for DM in 1975. It was called the "Dance to Give Them a Chance" marathon then, and it benefited the American Epilepsy Foundation and the National Association for Retarded Citizens. Fifteen couples made it through the fifty-two hour marathon, raising $9,105 at Blomquist Memorial Gymnasium. The winning couple, Donna Miller and Tony Krileff, was sponsored by Bobb Hall and a local liquor store.
DM 1976 saw a new venue as the dancing was moved to Patten Gym and the dancing time was lessened to twenty-six hours. The next year, though, was when DM found its current home: the Norris University Center, where students have been dancing for thirty hours at a time ever since. Little amenities to raise extra money for the cause were added over the years, like the DM Spa, where manicures and haircuts are given on the first floor of Norris. Other events take place to keep the rest of the campus involved while the dancers are busy, such as a DDR tournament and performances by on-campus groups. Chicago's Second City comedy troupe paid a visit in 1984. Since that time, popular bands and performers have been a highlight of DM weekend. DM has attracted the attention of people like George and Barbara Bush, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Jeff Probst, Scott Wolf, NU alumnus David Schwimmer, and former NU chemical engineering student Cindy Crawford. Chicago celebrities, like former mayor Jane Byrne and Chicago Bears players Mike Tomczak, Keith Van Horne and Trace Armstrong, have also danced.
[edit] Beneficiaries
Since its inaugural year, DM has raised over $8 million for various charities. In 2007, it raised $708,711 for its primary beneficiary, Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE). [1] For the past ten years, Dance Marathon has contributed between $25,000 and $45,000 annually, to the Evanston Community Foundation making Northwestern students among the Evanston Community Foundation's five largest donors.[citation needed]
In 2008, DM benefited Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation, raising $933,855. [2] It also continued its partnership with the Evanston Community Foundation. Bear Necessities is an organization dedicated to finding a cure for pediatric cancer as well as improving the quality of life of those children and their familiies who are affected by it. In their 15 years, Bear Necessities has positively affected the lives of thousands of children and continues to enhance the community through their efforts.
DM dollars also go to work locally. Through an 11-year partnership with the Evanston Community Foundation (ECF) as our secondary beneficiary, DM strengthens Northwestern students' local involvements and supports the communiaty that we call home for four years. ECF grants and leadership provide growing resources for nonprofit organizations serving Evanston and its residents.
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