
February 17-19, 2012 will mark the 17th anniversary of Dance Marathon at Florida State University. DM at FSU was one of the founding five Dance Marathons benefiting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. In 1996, its humble beginnings started in Tully Gym with approximately 100 dancers who raised slightly more than $19,000. Now, DM at FSU is the largest student-run philanthropy on FSU’s campus and in the southeastern United States. In its sixteen years, more than 8,800 student dancers have stayed awake and on their feet for more than 465 hours, raising more than $3.3 million, including $486,000 last year alone. These students “Give a weekend, Save a Life” to help raise money for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at Shands Hospital for Children at UF and the FSU College of Medicine’s pediatric outreach programs. In 2009, DM at FSU transitioned from a 32-hour event to a 40-hour event consisting of two 20-hour shifts. This allowed them to increase from an average of 700 student dancers to more than 1300. At the 17th annual event this February, more than 1600 students and 750 student volunteers will fill the Tallahassee Leon County Civic Center for the 40-hour event. It will be a weekend full of energetic linedances, encouraging miracle stories and giving back to the Tallahassee area and beyond.
For more information or to make a donation, visit http://noles4kids.org.