As college students, many of our Friday nights are filled with raging music, wild friends and a lot of dancing. Since 1997, however, one particular Friday in February is a bit different at USC. Hundreds of brave souls decked out in bright-colored, funky work-out clothes flock to Strom Thurmond Fitness Center for Dance Marathon. This fun, out-of-the-ordinary spin on an annual fundraiser has helped Dance Marathon at USC gain massive popularity and success. Not only is it the largest philanthropic organization on campus, but also the largest student-run charity in South Carolina.
The rules are simple: On Friday, starting at 7 pm, (this year on February 24th) registered participants dance for 24 hours straight - no sitting or sleeping. It may sound extreme, but for USC Dance Marathon Coordinator Colleen White, it’s worth it.
“For 24 hours you’re doing something that is completely selfless,” she says. “You get tired, but if you remind yourself why you’re doing it, for the kids in the hospital that would kill to be on their feet for a few hours, it’s worth it.”
It’s this mentality that helps many of the 600 dancers going strong.
To participate, each person must raise at least $150, and are highly encouraged to try for more. The group that fills Strom each year is an eclectic mix– dancers include USC students, faculty and staff, many of whom register to represent a vast array of clubs and organizations. Yes, a large percent are sorority girls, but others include people from student government, university ambassadors, certain dorms (like the “Bates Team”) and even solo participants.
Despite these affiliations, the four-color-team plan dissolves group lines and unites the dancers. Each dancer is assigned one of four colors, ensuring equal representation of organizations throughout the event. Dancers gain points for their designated color by participating in DM fundraising activities leading up to the event. This system allows for fair competition, instead of a few large groups monopolizing the event. The color that racks up the most points and collects the most donations, wins. Since its flagship year at USC, Dance Marathon has raised close to one million dollars, $160,584 of which was brought in last year alone. This incredible sum of money is donated entirely to Children’s Miracle Network– a network of more than 170 hospitals, and one that helps over 80,000 children in South Carolina each year. The local CMN hospital in Columbia is Palmetto Health Children’s, built in 2005. Donations given this year will be directed towards the hospital’s Pediatric Surgery Center, which helps 3,000 children yearly. Proceeds from Dance Marathon even played a large role in making the hospital itself a reality, funding much of its capital campaign.
“Our hospital could not have been made possible if it wasn’t for these kids,” Says Mims Gova, Director of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. A statement senior Colleen White should be honored by, as she’s proven to be one of Dance Marathon’s most dedicated members.
She tells G&B, “I was hooked from the beginning. Hearing the kids’ stories really drew me in, and I just knew that Dance Marathon was something I was going to be involved in throughout college.” But she is surprised at just how much it has become a part of her life. Following her freshman year as a participant, Colleen held the position as volunteer coordinator, and was named finance director the year after. So when she was offered the opportunity to be overall director, she was fully aware and prepared for the amount of work organizing a fundraiser of such magnitude would take.
Contrary to what some believe, Dance Marathon is not just a one-day event. Colleen oversees the work of 30 executive board members who work diligently throughout the year. In addition to planning the actual marathon, the exec members organize and host a 5k run/walk in November, represent USC at a summer DM leadership conference, hold percent nights at local restaurants, and participate in monthly activities at Palmetto Children’s Hospital. Another 60 Dance Marathon members or “moralers” as Colleen calls them, work hard choreographing line dances throughout the Spring that are taught to participants on the day of the event. The moralers act as the ‘face’ of Dance Marathon, helping to boost tired spirits.
Dancers are motivated to keep moving from not only the morale team, but also the “miracle children” that are present at the event. About six to eight families with kids who have overcome serious illnesses usually attend and tell their stories of hope. These are people who have directly benefitted from funds donated to Children’s Miracle Network. One of these children, Seth, was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia when he was only four years old. Through treatment received at Palmetto Health Children’s, Seth was able to fight and conquer the illness, and today is a healthy, vibrant kid.
For Colleen, following stories like Seth’s is the most rewarding part. “The kids you see in the hospital are the ones that are truly benefitting this year or maybe from the money last year. But to me, seeing the kids that have gone through it and are healthy is more of a miracle. I’ve seen the same kids for three years and it’s amazing how much they’ve grown up.” This year’s marathon will be bittersweet for Colleen as she is graduating in May, but knowing how many lives were helped during her time with Dance Marathon makes the reward last forever.
