Written By: Molly Metcalf
The University of Florida and Florida State University are age-old rivals on the football field, yet when it comes to making miracles For The Kids, we make an unstoppable team.
The Dance Marathon programs at both UF and FSU raise funds to support UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital throughout the school year and during each school’s Main Event. The universities share Miracle Children as well! Alyssa, Ayden, Bailey, Bella, Donovan, Jude, Lauren, Nate, Oliver, Owen, Powie, and Sage are just a few of the reasons that unite our schools in creating a lasting impact.
In the 2019-2020 school year, Dance Marathon at UF and Dance Marathon at FSU were able to change the lives of the children at UF Health Shands by raising a combined $4,467,786.78. Of these funds, 48% went towards research, 42% went towards patient care and 10% went towards education.
Furthermore, our efforts contribute to Shands’ status as the premier pediatric health center in Florida. In the latest 2020-2021 US News & World Report rankings, Shands ranked in the nation’s Top 50 in nine specialties, including ear, nose and throat, cancer, diabetes and endocrinology, pulmonology and lung surgery, and orthopaedics.
While there will be no rivalry football game between the two colleges this year, Dance Marathon at UF and Dance Marathon at FSU will be channeling our competitive spirits into a friendly fundraising competition. The only thing better than a rivalry, is a rivalry For The Kids.
The competition between DM at UF and DM at FSU will begin Wednesday, Nov. 18 at noon and end Thursday, Nov. 19 at 8 p.m. The two schools will join together in our common cause, and we look forward to taking on DM at FSU this year!