Dance Marathon at FSU raises $1.47 million against all odds

Dance Marathon at Florida State University raised an incredible $1,470,210.69 for Children’s Miracle Network at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital and the FSU College of Medicine’s pediatric outreach programs during their drive-in total reveal on Sunday, March 7. Their event was moved from its typical in-person weekend inside the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center into a hybrid format. Students gathered through Zoom, in socially distanced outdoor locations on campus and through organization facilities to continue raising funds and awareness amid a global pandemic.

Dance Marathon at FSU was committed to providing a safe marathon experience for each of its participants. Two shifts, known as the Garnet Experience and Gold Tradition, allowed for participants to experience 10-20 hours of the marathon weekend from the comfort of their own homes or organization facilities. The entire marathon event took place from Friday morning on March 5 through its total reveal in the Civic Center parking lot on Sunday afternoon:

This impressive feat is a culmination of yearlong fundraising efforts by Dance Marathon at FSU students, alumni and Community Marathon programs, who defied the odds to serve their local Children’s Miracle Network hospital and pediatric outreach programs the FSU College of Medicine.

In October 2020, Dance Marathon at FSU raised more than $400,000 in just 26.2 hours during their annual fall fundraising push day, Florida Statement. They continued to fight for those experiencing pediatric illness in January 2021 with Leave Your Legacy, a spring fundraising push event that surpassed $93,000. Florida Statement, Leave Your Legacy and Dance Marathon at FSU’s marathon event programming this past weekend all took place with limited in-person engagement. Their innovation, creativity and dedication to producing a high-quality event in a hybrid format allowed for families, patients, alumni and more to tune in virtually and through radio and social media.

Nine Community Marathons, made up of elementary, middle and high school programs, were able to raise $429,154.09 as a collective group. Representatives were able to drive-in and witness the reveal of this important milestone on the Civic Center steps before the final total for Dance Marathon at FSU 2021 was revealed.

A giant thank you and congratulations to the 2021 Executive Board, internal members, dancer participants, alumni, Miracle Families, donors, and the following K-12 schools for their support of this endeavor, against all odds:

• Deerlake Middle School
• Florida State University Schools (FSUS)
• Lawton Chiles High School
• Leon High School
• Lincoln High School
• Maclay Middle School
• Maclay School
• Rickards High School
• St. John Paul II Catholic High School

These funds will make a tangible difference in the lives of so many patients who are impacted by our beneficiaries in Leon, Gadsden and Alachua Counties. Dance Marathon at FSU is proud to support Children’s Miracle Network at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital and the FSU College of Medicine’s pediatric outreach programs.