Northwestern University Dance Marathon

Northwestern University Dance Marathon
Abbreviation	NUDM
Formation	1975
Purpose/focus	Philanthropy
Location	Evanston, IL
Executive Co-Chairs	Kunal Joshi Scott Ritter
Volunteers	1,500
Website	http://nudm.org/

The Northwestern University Dance Marathon (also known as NUDM) is a philanthropic dance marathon held annually at Northwestern University. Currently in its 38th year, NUDM is one of the world's largest student-run philanthropies^{[citation needed]}. As a strong campus tradition, Dance Marathon, or DM, brings together over 1,500 students, faculty, staff, and administrators in a thirty hour dance-a-thon. Students, serving as either dancers or committee members, fundraise all year to support its beneficiaries, culminating in an all-campus celebration weekend in the beginning of March. In addition to DM weekend, special events occur throughout the entire year, such as a cooking competition, a basketball tournament, and trivia nights. Each dancer pair raises at least $800 for the honor of dancing. About 400 committee members assist in the planning and execution of DM and related events.

To maintain the morale of the dancers, campus a capella groups, dance troupes, and student bands visit Dance Marathon to perform. Before sunrise on Saturday morning, dancers are treated to a quick foot massage to help reenergize them to finish the day. In other areas of the Norris University Center DM hosts events for all Northwestern students and community visitors to enjoy during the weekend, such as a Spa, a 5k/10k run, and a Kid's Fair hosted by Northwestern student groups.

Each year DM selects a primary and secondary beneficiary to receive the money collected after months of fundraising and 30 hours of dancing. During DM, spectators visit the Norris University Center at Northwestern University, where DM takes place, to support the dancers and to take part in events such as a DM Spa and a 5K run. These events are planned to involve community members from Northwestern, Evanston, Illinois and nearby communities in DM. This community involvement fulfills DM's mission of uniting the Northwestern University campus and the nearby communities thorough education and philanthropic fundraising.

History

More than thirty years ago, Dance Marathon, the philanthropic child of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and the Associated Student Government, was born on the Northwestern University campus.

The concept for Dance Marathon was sparked by Cheryl Wexler Scott, the 1973 Homecoming co-chair. At the time, she was searching for a philanthropic endeavor to kick off the weekend festivities when she recalled a Jane Fonda movie she had viewed the summer before. The film, "They Shoot Horses Don't They," chronicles a Depression-era marathon dance contest that attracts destitute participants to vie for a $1,500 prize

Twenty-one couples danced for DM in 1975. It was called the "Dance to Give Them a Chance" marathon then, and it benefited the American Epilepsy Foundation and the National Association for Retarded Citizens. Fifteen couples made it through the fifty-two hour marathon, raising $9,105 at Blomquist Memorial Gymnasium. The winning couple, Donna Miller and Tony Krileff, was sponsored by Bobb Hall and a local liquor store.^[1]

DM 1976 saw a new venue as the dancing was moved to Patten Gym and the dancing time was lessened to twenty-six hours. When the sponsor decided to discontinue the event after two years, Triangle Fraternity picked up the mantle and looked for a venue where other fund-raising events were possible. In 1977, DM found its current home: the Norris University Center, where students have been dancing for thirty hours at a time ever since. To institutionalize the event for the long haul and ensure a continuing flow of good ideas from students, organizers turned it into a campus-wide charitable event. ^[2]

Special events to raise extra money for the cause were added over the years, like the DM Spa, where manicures and haircuts are given in Norris during Dance Marathon weekend. Other events take place to keep the rest of the campus involved while the dancers are busy, such as a DDR tournament and performances by on-campus groups.

Chicago's The Second City comedy troupe paid a visit in 1984. Since that time, popular bands and performers have been a highlight of DM weekend.^[3] DM has attracted the attention of people like Barack Obama, George and Barbara Bush, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Jeff Probst, Scott Wolf, NU alumnus David Schwimmer, and former NU chemical engineering student Cindy Crawford.^[4] Chicago celebrities, like former mayor Jane Byrne and Chicago Bears players Mike Tomczak, Keith Van Horne and Trace Armstrong, have also danced.^[5]

Beneficiaries

Since its inaugural year, DM has raised over $12 million for various charities.

In 2007, DM raised $708,711, for its primary beneficiary, Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy. For the past ten years, Dance Marathon has contributed between $25,000 and $45,000 annually, to the Evanston Community Foundation making Northwestern students among the Evanston Community Foundation's five largest donors.^[6]

In 2008, DM benefited Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation, raising $933,855. It also continued its partnership with the Evanston Community Foundation. Bear Necessities is an organization dedicated to finding a cure for pediatric cancer as well as improving the quality of life of those children and their families who are affected by it.

DM 2009 selected Project Kindle as the primary beneficiary. Project Kindle is a national organization that serves as a support system for families affected or infected by HIV and AIDS, and as an educator for the general public. The Evanston Community Foundation was the secondary beneficiary for the 12th year.^[7]

DM 2009 took place Friday March 6- Sunday March 8, raising $917,834.^[8]

DM 2010 selected StandUp for Kids as the primary beneficiary. StandUp for Kids works to find and help homeless youth in cities across the United States. In addition to providing basic necessities and support for homeless youth, they also work to deter kids from running away. The Evanston Community Foundation was the secondary beneficiary for the 13th year.^[9]

DM 2010 took place Friday March 5 - Sunday March 7, raising $854,396.^[10]

DM 2011 announced The Children's Heart Foundation as their primary beneficiary in May 2010. The Children's Heart Foundation (CHF) is the sole organization focused exclusively on funding research and raising awareness for congenital heart defects, the most common birth defect in the world and the leading cause of birth defect-related deaths.^[11] The Children's Heart Foundation was also the primary beneficiary for DM 1999. The Evanston Community Foundation was selected as the secondary beneficiary for the 14th consecutive year.^[12]

DM 2011 took place Friday March 4 - Sunday March 6, 2011, raising $1,019,130. This was the first time that NUDM's fundraising passed the $1M mark.

Primary Beneficiaries: (totals reflect monetary and in-kind donations, divided among the primary and secondary beneficiary) 2012: The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation (http://www.bepositive.org/) 2011: Children's Heart Foundation (http://www.childrensheartfoundation.org/) $1,019,130 2010: StandUp for Kids (http://www.standupforkids.org/) $854,396 2009: Project Kindle (http://www.projectkindle.org/) $917,834 2008: Bear Necessities (http://www.bearnecessities.org/) $933,805 2007: CURE-Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (http://www.cureepilepsy.org/home.asp) $708,711 2006: Pediatric AIDS Chicago Prevention Initiative (PACPI) (http://www.pregnantandpositive.org/) $686,377 2005: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in (http://www.jdrf.org/) $625,131 2004: Have Dreams (http://www.havedreams.org/) $461,294 2003: Chicago Urban Youth Scholarship Fund $462,613 2002: Friends for Steven (http://www.friendsforsteven.org/) $492,000 2001: Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (http://www.pedaids.org/) $540,257 2000: Gilda's Club Chicago (http://www.gildasclubchicago.org/home.html) $537,645 1999: Children's Heart Foundation (http://www.childrensheartfoundation.org/) $450,833 1998: La Rabida Children's Hospital and Research Center (http://larabida.org/) $431,524 1997: The Gus Foundation (http://www.childrensmemorial.org/friends/foundation/youngassociatesboard.aspx) $405,563 1996: Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northern Illinois (http://www.wishes.org/) $315,143 1995: Pediatrics AIDS Ward of Children's Memorial $301,023 1994: Leukemia Research Foundation (http://www.leukemia-research.org/Page.aspx?pid=183) $250,258 1993: American Heart Association (http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200000) $200,438

Footnotes

1. ^ Northwestern Dance Marathon. "About". http://nudm.org/about/
2. ^ Northwestern Dance Marathon. "About". http://nudm.org/about/
3. ^ Northwestern Dance Marathon. "About". http://nudm.org/about/
4. ^ Northwestern Dance Marathon. "About". http://nudm.org/about/
5. ^ Northwestern Dance Marathon. "About". http://nudm.org/about/
6. ^ Evanston Community Foundation. "Dance Marathon". www.evanstonforever.org/community/dm.html.
7. ^ Evanston Community Foundation. "Dance Marathon". www.evanstonforever.org/community/dm.html.
8. ^ Rosenthal, Brian and Spector, Matt. "Dance Marathon Fights Recession, Raises $917K". The Daily Northwestern.
9. ^ Northwestern Dance Marathon. "Dance Marathon 2010 Announces Beneficiary". http://nudm.org/2009/09/08/dance-marathon-2010-announces-beneficiary/#more-184.
10. ^ Litman, Amanda. "DM 2010 raises $854,396 overall; $461,546.73 goes to StandUp for Kids". North by Northwestern. http://www.northbynorthwestern.com/2010/03/73367/dm-total/.
11. ^ Children's Heart Foundation. "Fact Sheets". http://www.childrensheartfoundation.org/about-chf/fact-sheets.
12. ^ Northwestern Dance Marathon. "Dance Marathon 2011 Announces Beneficiary". http://nudm.org/2010/05/26/dance-marathon-2011-announces-beneficiary/.

External links

• NUDM Website
• Northwestern Dance Marathon Photos
• The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation
• Evanston Community Foundation