Dance Marathon has bopped its way to the top of campus philanthropies nationwide, with more participants than other student-led philanthropy.
The movement is housed at more than 450 high schools and colleges across the nation, which all raise money for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
Since it’s founding, this nationwide movement has raised more than $106 million for CMNH.
After a year of lead-up, the annual experience comes to its peak at each campus in a 12 to 40-hour event where students dance or stay on their feet through other games and entertainment while interacting with children’s hospital patients and their families.
Dance Marathon: FGCU, the local chapter, has been gearing up for the main event all school year.
The funds raised by the local DM go toward All Children’s Hospital, which, in turn funds All Children’s Specialty Care of Ft. Myers.
So far, the campus organizations involved include FGCU Student Government, FGCU Alumni, FPRA, PATCH, Phi Mu, Alpha Chi Omega, NRHH and Housing, Delta Delta Delta, Sigma Alpha Pi, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Phi Eta Sigma, Pi Kappa Phi, FGCU Programming Board, D.R.O.P., Kappa Delta, Pi Kappa Alpha and Chi Omega.
FGCU DM will be hosting a Moe’s night from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25 at the Gulf Coast Town Center location. Fifteen percent of your total purchase will go toward FGCU DM if you come bearing the flyer, which can be found on the Facebook event page, FGCU DM Moe’s Restaurant Night.
Further, the club will be hosting another round of its karaoke night at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, March 2 at Veterans Pavilion. Participants have the chance to win a $25 Visa gift card.
FGCU DM’s main focus in the foreseeable future is its 300 in 3 days campaign. The campaign aims to motivate 300 new dancers to sign up from March 1 through 3.
Dancers are also being encouraged to fundraise $300 in those three days as well on their Donor Drives, the website to register for FGCU DM that sends the funds raised to All Children’s Hospital and their outpatient center here in Fort Myers.
You can find FGCU DM in the Cohen Center Atrium from March 1 to 3 to sign up and pay the $10 registration fee before the fee increases to $15 to $20 on March 4.
“This campaign will hopefully boost morale and provide awareness for our yearlong fundraising,” said Lindsey Smith, the vice president and technology chair of FGCU DM.
Though there is no requirement as far as fundraising goes, FGCU DM sets its goals high.
“We suggest and encourage a minimum of $100 per dancer,” Smith said. “Teams can set their own fundraising goal on their Donor Drive.”
Those who raise $300 during the 300 in 3 days campaign will receive incentives at the big day event. Tri Delta, for example, increased its registration by 50 dancers and raised almost $2,000 from Feb. 21 to 23.
Registration is open until the day of the event, April 2. For more information, contact [email protected], or visit fgcudm.com. To volunteer or perform at this event, message Dance Marathon: FGCU on Facebook and check out FGCU DM on Instagram.