SAU Dance Marathon Hosts 12th Big Event Fundraiser
DAVENPORT, Iowa – Dance Marathon celebrated its twelfth year raising money through Stead Family Children’s Hospital at the Rogoalski Center Ballroom.
Members of Dance Marathon, miracle families, and volunteers gathered for 13.1 hours in celebration of the fundraising efforts throughout the 2023-2024 school year.
Miracle families are households with a child experiencing a sickness and are willing to share their stories.
“This year we have been funding for the Food for Families Program,” says Mckennah Killian, Vice President of Internal Affairs, “That means a $12 food voucher is feeding a family for a day. That is one extra stressor that is taken off of their plate.”
“They [a miracle family] are already going through one of the toughest parts of their lives with their kiddos fighting whatever battle it may be in the hospital, and we are just making sure that they don’t have to go one day being hungry,” she says.
Dance Marathon has created many relationships that can last a lifetime. Although, the number of dancers has decreased over the last six years.
Last year, SAU Dance Marathon had a total of 250 dancers, while this year there were 180, making it the lowest number of dancers in history. Yet, SAU had raised almost the same amount of money as they did in 2021 when there were over 520 dancers.
Despite the decrease in dancers over the years, the organization has increased in miracle families.
This year, the Rogalski Center welcomed 58 miracle families- the highest in the history’s program.
The big event raised a total of $192,831.12, creating over 16,000 meal vouchers for families at the Stead Family Children’s Hospital.
The day was full of tears of joy and reflection on this year’s accomplishments. In the end, SAU Dance Marathon continues to change lives.
To learn more about the organization, visit SAUDM.org.
