Month: October 2018

Tomorrow, our campus and community will come together to ignite the power of Dance Marathon at UF as we strive to make 26.2 hours worth of miracles. Each year, DM at UF holds a 26.2 hour fundraising initiative known as Transform Today, during which students raise funds and awareness for the patients at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital. The 26.2 hour time frame represents the 26.2 hours that Dancers will stand at Dance Marathon’s main event in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center on March 30-31, 2019. Last year, Dance Marathon at UF raised $540,424.93 on Transform Today. This year, Transform Today will take place from October 23 at 8:00 a.m. to October 24 at 10:12 a.m., with the goal of raising $600,000 For The Kids.

The University of Florida campus and Gainesville community will be filled with excitement and inspiration throughout Transform Today. All day, there will be activities across campus, from carnival games and dunk tanks, to Domino’s Pizza and Hyppo Popsicles at Plaza of the Americas, to the performance of the Linedance in Turlington Plaza. Join us for the Celebration of Miracles at Plaza of the Americas from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to receive your limited edition Transform Today fundraising incentive hospital bands on Tuesday evening, before heading to the Chipotle Hospitality Night at any Chipotle in Gainesville!

The total amount raised during Transform Today will be revealed at DM at UF’s annual Halloween celebration, Moralloween, on October 24th from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Flavet Field on the University of Florida’s campus. Many of our Miracle Families come to Moralloween, where Miracle Children can Trick-or-Treat, enjoy games and Haunted Houses, and participate in a costume contest. Tickets can be purchased pre-sale for $5 from the DM Store or $7 at the door. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend this special event, to celebrate our Miracle Children and the hope that we’ve given them through our efforts during Transform Today.

While participating in this exciting day, students remain motivated to continue fundraising by the courage of our Miracle Children, who continue to face each day with a smile no matter how challenging their fight may be. Transform Today is our opportunity to unite as one campus that believes in the power of Dance Marathon at UF to end childhood illness. On Transform Today, we believe that together we can reach our fullest potential, further our impact on this movement, and make more miracles than we ever thought possible.

As we are in our 25^th year, it is clear that Dance Marathon at UF is not just an organization. Dance Marathon at UF changes the lives of everyone involved – not just the children’s lives, or the students involved, but also the families of these children and the donors who are supporting this life-changing cause. Twenty-five years of selfless love, giving, support and encouragement, but we are just getting started. Each year is a new year to improve – to do better than the last, to raise more money, to dedicate more time and even more love.

Check out these 25 fast facts about DM at UF to celebrate our 25^th year!

• Over $18.2 million has been raised by Dance Marathon at UF since 1995, all #FTK.
• More than 1 million children have been impacted by DM at UF since our start in 1995.
• Up until 2008, Dancers stayed on their feet for 32 hours! Today, our Dancers stand for 26.2 hours, the length of an actual marathon.
• In 1995, the first Dance Marathon at the University of Florida was held in the Rion Ballroom at the J. Wayne Reitz Union. In 1996, the event was moved to the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, where it is held today.
• Dance Marathon at UF is one of the five founding Dance Marathon programs in the nation.
• We are lucky enough to have over 77 Miracle Families that inspire us daily.
• DM at UF is still the most successful student-run philanthropy in the southeastern United States.
• At our first Dance Marathon in 1995, we raised $12,424.66!
• Over these 25 years, we have had 678 total hours danced and 388,696.2 hours by all of the Dancers combined!
• DM at UF 2019 involves 20 Overall Directors, 484 Captains, and 196 Emerging Leaders!
• Approximately 41,128 slices of pizza have been served to Dancers since 1995.
• Since 1995, we have spent approximately 175 minutes performing the Linedance.
• The most years that someone has participated as a Dancer is 12 years – Matt Michel was a 12 year Dancer!
• Dance Marathon at UF has received over 49,000 donations on Donor Drive.
• Dance Marathon 2019 is on March 30-31^st. We cannot wait!#WhenWeBelieve anything is possible.

There are so many amazing things in store for our 25th year! We hope you join us in celebrating all of the miracles we have made in the past and join us in anticipating those to come. #WhenWeBelieve we can end childhood illnesses, we will.