Students Raise More Than $900K Through Dance Marathon Program

Our 2018 Miracle Network Dance Marathon program concluded last month with local students raising a total of $911,555 to help kids at Children’s National grow up stronger.

More than 3,400 students participated in five collegiate dance marathons benefitting Children's National: Terp Thon at the University of Maryland, EagleTHON at American University, hawkTHON at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, GW Dance Marathon at George Washington University, and maryTHON at Marymount University.

The Dance Marathon program empowers and equips college students for peer-to-peer fundraising on behalf of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, which supports local pediatric hospitals like Children’s National.

Throughout the school year, students engage peers, university groups and departments, corporate partners, and community supporters to raise funds and awareness for pediatric health. Each program culminates with a ‘dance marathon’ where students dance from noon till midnight, representing the 12-hour shift of many pediatric nurses, doctors, and staff members. Games, activities, and talent shows ensue, and former patients known as ‘miracle kids’ inspire students by sharing their journey at Children’s National and their joyful attitudes in spite of adversity.

“The $734,617 we raised represents more heartbeats, more memories, more smiles, more laughter, more dreams for Children’s National patients,” said Bianca Fiore, Executive Director of Terp Thon. “None of this would've been possible without the dedication of over 2,500 UMD students who joined our movement to fight ‘For The Kids.’”

Nationally, the Miracle Network Dance Marathon program is ranked as the 14th highest peer-to-peer fundraising program and the fastest growing program in 2017, increasing fundraising by 19.6% to nearly $39 million. Across North America, more than 300 college and university campuses host dance marathons along with more than 100 K-12 schools.

Since 2010, local dance marathon programs have donated a total of $5,030,638 to Children’s National to ensure that every child can receive world-class care, regardless of insurance and ability to pay.

To learn more about Children’s National’s Dance Marathon program, contact Matt Tripsas at [email protected].