2017 University of Alabama Dance Marathon Breaks Records
After months of planning and a year of fundraising, The University of Alabama Dance Marathon (UADM) raised $340,001.17 for the kids at Children’s of Alabama. UADM 2017 was the culmination of a year’s worth of fundraising – a 12 hour event that ran from 10am to 10pm at the Ferguson Center on UA’s campus in Tuscaloosa.
Starting in 2016 a new staff of over 200 student leaders worked to plan and execute a fundraising goal of $300,000 by February 11th, 2017. This was an ambitious goal from the $211,342.16 raised in 2016. With support from Children’s Miracle Network, Children’s of Alabama, and the University of Alabama these student leaders set their plan in motion. Over the summer of 2016 leaders in UADM traveled to attend the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Dance Marathon Leadership Conference at The University of Ohio. They networked with other Dance Marathon programs from around the country and attended learning sessions about fundraising best practices, event preparation, in-event fundraising, leadership,
accounting, morale, and much more.
Armed with new knowledge and a goal, the staff set out to fundraise throughout the year. Students held fundraising push days throughout the year, threw fundraising parties, and hosted events. In September UADM hosted their 2nd annual ‘$100 Day’ event – challenging their staff and miracle makers to raise $100 each with a goal to raise $30,000 in 24 hours. On this day alone they raised $50,160.58.
Throughout the year they continued to hold events and raise money and awareness for Children’s of Alabama. Day by day and dollar by dollar the students got closer to their goal. As they began to plan the ‘Main Event’ Dance Marathon students planned activities to keep participants engaged, upbeat, and energized throughout a 12 hour event where everyone is encouraged to stand the entire time.
Over 1,500 students registered for the event on February 11, 2017. On the day of the event students showed up early and filed into the Ferguson Center decked out in their color group tee shirts, body paint, tutus, and costumes. The staff kicked off the event by talking about the mission and message of Dance Marathon and CMNH. Hour by hour the Moral group worked to keep dancers motivated and engaged. At the top of each hour a local child and their family were brought onto stage to tell their story and bring the focus of the event back onto the people each dollar is going to help.
As the hours passed, only a select few people knew the fundraising total. Fundraising pushes during the event helped the total continue to rise. In one hour UADM competed with Auburn’s Dance Marathon taking place at the same time. During this hour UADM raised $17,931.01, losing to Auburn by only $1,129 but still having their largest fundraising hour ever.
Fundraising pushes were halted 30 minutes before the event was scheduled to end. Most students took this time to take part in the final hour of dance – a ‘rave’ with glowsticks, blacklights, and amped up music. The key advisors and the VP of Finance stayed back to count the final dollars and organize the big reveal.
At 10:00 pm, after 12 hours on their feet, students moved into a separate room for the total reveal. On the first floor of the Ferguson Center students encircled the Miracle Families still at the event. As an a cappella group took the stage, students were once again reminded about the mission of UADM – to be in their feet and raise money for the kids and families at Children’s of Alabama. The President of UADM, Sarah Urbanski, said her final words and talked about the hard work of the executive board and staff throughout the year.
With cell phones out and cameras ready, the executive board stood on stage ready for the big reveal. Each person had one number, turned over so no one could see the total. Starting from the lowest cent number and working their way back each person held their number high above their head. The room collectively cheered and people became emotional when the final boards were revealed – $340,001.17.
Children’s of Alabama is very proud of the accomplishments of The University of Alabama Dance Marathon 2017 and all the hard work put in over the year to reach their goal.