Students raise $177,000 at annual fundraising event
More than 700 students packed the main gym at the Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center for 24 hours — 7 p.m. Friday to 7 p.m. Saturday — and danced their way to $177,229.05 in donations benefiting Palmetto Health Children's Hospital.
The conclusion of the 14th annual philanthropy event brought the grand total of money raised by Dance Marathon for the hospital via Children's Miracle Network to $1,359,300.
"Seeing all these people together to support the local children's hospital was awesome," said first-year art student Elisabeth Donato. "The best parts were getting to hear from the families of Miracle Children who were treated at Palmetto Health and getting to meet them."
During the event's opening ceremonies, Miracle Children and their families spoke to the crowd about their experiences at Palmetto Health. Jason Bilton, the father of Miracle Child Hannah, told a particularly touching tale; Hannah and her mother, Karen, were diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and breast cancer, respectively, within days of each other in 2006.
"They both lost their hair together and they both went through treatment together, and they've both been cancer-free for almost five years," Bilton said. "This would not have been possible without the support of our family and friends and, of course, Palmetto Health. Hannah is standing next to me today because of projects like USC Dance Marathon."
Karen Bilton was not in attendance, as she was at home in Orangeburg, S.C.
"The miracle family testimonies are always the most moving part of the event and this year we were lucky to get multiple families who were willing to talk with everyone and share their stories," Public Relations Director and third-year public relations student Megan Reidy said. "Sharing with dancers how children that are right in front of them might not be where they are today without the help of Palmetto Health Children's Hospital really hits home for the participants."
More than 500 students participated as dancers and were required to raise at least $150, while an additional 142 students served as volunteers. Many took part in a new program in which they would work three hours and dance for three hours if they raised at least $30.
"Last year, volunteers would work six hours and do their job and leave, but this year we decided to give them the opportunity to volunteer but also participate and see what Dance Marathon is all about," said volunteer coordinator Spencer Martin, a second-year finance student. "We were very fortunate this year. There are a few volunteers that have raised over $200. It's really awesome to see that they're going above and beyond."
Students were kept up and dancing for the full 24 hours by an enthusiastic morale team of 60 members, including Student Body President-elect Kenny Tracy and Student Body Vice President-elect Chase Mizzell.
Rave hours, a yoga session and various performances, including one from USC's all-male a cappella group SoundCheck, also helped keep dancers awake and on their feet.
While donations raised by dancers ranged from $150 to more than $3,700, high participation levels from members of Fraternity and Sorority Life and other student organizations led to the high final sum.
"Our sorority helped us with fundraising," said second-year elementary education student Courtney Falgowski, a member of Kappa Delta sorority. "We would go canning at basketball games, and it was so easy for people to donate. I sent a mass email out to my relatives to get a lot of donations."
She estimated her sorority raised $11,000.
Kappa Delta tied with Gamma Phi Beta sorority for Top Overall Large Team, having the highest number of participants. Delta Zeta sorority won Top Overall Small Team with the most participants in a smaller group. Gamma Phi Beta also won the large team Miracle Cup, first place in the banner competition and raised the most money for a large team, bringing in $18,729. Chi Omega sorority won the small team Miracle Cup, while Alpha Chi Omega and Kappa Kappa Gamma sororities placed second and third, respectively, in the banner competition.
JT George, a fourth-year finance student, was the highest fundraiser on the morale team, raising $4,010. Nicholas Peter, a first-year business student, was the top fundraiser of the 504 dancers, with $3,773, and his eight-member team, Boys' Night Out, was the top small team fundraiser with $5,178. Peter named his team after his late father's softball team.
"My father suddenly and unexpectedly passed away before Christmas this year. I decided to raise money for the kids in his name to keep his memory alive for me and for my mother and two brothers," Peter said. "I wanted to give my family hope. Throughout the dance, these Miracle Children made me realize just how blessed I am. They gave me hope. Standing and raising money and screaming my lungs out was the least I could have done for these children after all they had done for me."
Saturday would have marked Peter's father's birthday and he said that participating in Dance Marathon was his present to his father.