In a demonstration of community engagement, more than 600 UNC Charlotte students danced the night away recently in support of the Levine Children’s Hospital. The marathon capped a number of fundraising events across campus that raised $49,015.
“One hundred percent of the marathon proceeds stay at the Levine Children’s Hospital; so as students, we get to see all of our efforts make a concrete local impact,” stated Kelsey Mongeau, a senior majoring in public health and sociology from Hampstead. She also is one of the members of the marathon’s executive board.
The Charlotte Dance Marathon, a student-led initiative and a legacy project started by the inaugural class of the Levine Scholars Program, is a 12-hour event. Many college campuses across the country conduct such fundraisers. The Charlotte Dance Marathon featured a variety of programs and dancing, as well as food and other activities.
Last year’s first-ever marathon was called the Dance Mine; organizers decided to rename it for greater association with the national dance marathon movement.
“Charlotte Dance Marathon is a unique student organization where a team of more than 50 students leads one another to execute a full year of fundraising initiatives,” said Anna Swartz, a member of the marathon’s executive board. A senior from Reading, Penn., she is majoring in management and international business. “The 12-hour marathon is a celebration of this hard work.”
Swartz added with renaming the marathon, organizers developed an online presence, the Charlotte Dance Marathon website. Also, the group partnered with various student organizations and aided them to sponsor fundraisers, such as Rent-a-Puppy, Poetry and Coffee Night, a charity date auction, a Powder Puff Football tournament and more.
“We owe so much of our success to our tireless student volunteers who showed up to get the word out across campus and to our fundraisers on campus,” stated Mongeau.
Senior software and information systems major Elizabeth Koehler of Mooresville was the third member of the executive board. She noted the importance of the campus coming together to support an important community organization, such as the Levine Children’s Hospital.
“It (the marathon) can impact families and children for years to come,” Koehler said. “Many students know someone who has been treated at Levine Children’s Hospital, so having a student organization that can directly impact so many people is exciting, and it feels great doing so.”
According to Koehler, Charlotte Dance Marathon will continue to move toward year-round fundraising in advance of the 12-hour marathon celebration. “We are also focused on educating students about Charlotte Dance Marathon – our goals, the event itself and who we do it for – the kids at Levine Children’s Hospital.”
Main photo by Jared Cline, Niner Times