Rollins Dance Marathon makes miracles happen
Kristin Schendel
Issue date: 11/20/09 Section: Life & Times
This year's Dance Marathon event was filled with non-stop movement and meaning. Last Saturday from 2 p.m. until 2 a.m., Rollins students, faculty and staff, along with members of the local community, joined together for 12 hours of dancing, games, food, music and entertainment in the Cornell Campus Center.
Dance Marathon is the largest and most successful student-organized philanthropy at Rollins College. Entirely student run, the Dance Marathon event donates 100 percent of the funds raised directly to Greater Orlando Children's Miracle Network affiliated hospitals, including Shands Children's Hospital at the University of Florida and Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando.
The event marked the third year for Dance Marathon at Rollins College. In its first year, Rollins received recognition from the Children's Miracle Network Leadership Conference as the "Best New Dance Marathon" of the 17 launched nationally, as well as the "Most Successful First-Year Dance Marathon" in the event's 13-year history. This year, in addition to raising funds for the Children's Miracle Network, students put an emphasis on improving awareness of the assistance Children's Miracle Network provides to over 17 million children annually.
Families and children who have benefitted from Children's Miracle Network attended the event to speak about how their lives were changes by the generosity of the organization. Participant Mart Neville (Class of 2013) spearheaded the McKean Residence Hall team, who won the event's Miracle Cup, an award based on the number of participating dancers, fundraising initiatives, and overall spirit.
Rich Ford (Class of 2013), another dancer, became an honorary Moraler during the event due to his spirited encouragement of those around him throughout the 12-hour period.
Dance Marathon is the largest and most successful student-organized philanthropy at Rollins College. Entirely student run, the Dance Marathon event donates 100 percent of the funds raised directly to Greater Orlando Children's Miracle Network affiliated hospitals, including Shands Children's Hospital at the University of Florida and Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando.
The event marked the third year for Dance Marathon at Rollins College. In its first year, Rollins received recognition from the Children's Miracle Network Leadership Conference as the "Best New Dance Marathon" of the 17 launched nationally, as well as the "Most Successful First-Year Dance Marathon" in the event's 13-year history. This year, in addition to raising funds for the Children's Miracle Network, students put an emphasis on improving awareness of the assistance Children's Miracle Network provides to over 17 million children annually.
Families and children who have benefitted from Children's Miracle Network attended the event to speak about how their lives were changes by the generosity of the organization. Participant Mart Neville (Class of 2013) spearheaded the McKean Residence Hall team, who won the event's Miracle Cup, an award based on the number of participating dancers, fundraising initiatives, and overall spirit.
Rich Ford (Class of 2013), another dancer, became an honorary Moraler during the event due to his spirited encouragement of those around him throughout the 12-hour period.
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