AMES, Iowa - Iowa State students and volunteers will spend 15 hours dancing to raise funds for the University of Iowa Children's Hospital during the 13th annual Iowa State University Dance Marathon on Saturday, Jan. 23.
Dance Marathon -- Iowa State's largest student-run philanthropic event, raising $1.3 million since it started in 1998 -- will begin at 9 a.m. in ISU's Memorial Union. Lindsey Loomer, executive co-director of the event, reports that 900 volunteers have already registered to participate in the event this year.
"Dance Marathon is one of the most rewarding experiences a student can have during college," said Loomer. "It gives students the opportunity to hold important leadership positions. There are 16 members on the executive council and 130 committee members."
Volunteers will spend the day with Dance Marathon-sponsored families from the University of Iowa Children's Hospital. They'll play games, watch performances by ISU organizations and, of course, dance.
"It is a wonderful event because not only are you raising money for the kids, but you also get to meet families you fundraised for and hear how Dance Marathon has benefited them," said Annette Beswick, public relations executive for Dance Marathon.
Last year more than 500 Iowa State volunteers helped raise more than $171,000 from Dance Marathon through the Children's Miracle Network -- a non-profit organization that raises funds for more than 170 children's hospitals nationwide.
"It is remarkable to see the impact that a group of students can make on the lives of so many when they work together," said Trent Jacobson, executive co-director of the event. "Dance Marathon does not only change the lives of the people we support, but for the participants as well."
In 2009, ISU Dance Marathon won the award for Best Closing Ceremony from the Children's Miracle Network at the Dance Marathon Leadership Conference in Indianapolis, Ind.
Additional information on the ISU Dance Marathon, including a
Web cast of the event, is available online at: http://www.dm.stuorg.iastate.edu
, or by following the organization on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/ISUDM.
