25
Years
Dance Marathon
By Rebecca Farina (B.S. ’20) Community Outreach Coordinator for FSU’s 2020 Dance Marathon
Dance Marathon at FSU, an annual 40-hour event where students raise funds for children in need of specialized pediatric and medical care, celebrated its 25th anniversary March 6-8, 2020. “For the Kids.” A statement that has echoed across Florida State University’s campus every year for 25 years. For one weekend each year, students and alumni join together for Dance Marathon (DM) at FSU, an annual fundraiser that culminates with a 40-hour event where participants stay awake — and on their feet — to raise money and awareness for children fighting with pediatric illness or injury. This year marked a special anniversary for the studentrun philanthropy who hosted its 25th consecutive event. Twenty-six years ago, students on Florida State’s campus came together to create one of the founding Dance Marathon programs in the nation. Bryan
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Seaquist (B.S. ’97), a co-founder of DM at FSU, wanted to develop a new activity to bring the campus community together regardless of which organizations students were associated with. At the same time, Seaquist said the Children’s Miracle Network was trying to expand its reach into schools. In 1996, after a year and a half of planning, DM at FSU held its first event inside Tully Gym. In its first year, DM at FSU raised $19,001.37. Little did the founding leaders know how much of an impact this movement would continue to make on Florida State’s campus for the next 25 years. The main event now takes place in the exhibition hall of the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center and has raised over $14 million for the kids in the community, including $2.2 million in 2019 alone. Proceeds from the marathon and the related fundraisers are split evenly between the FSU College of Medicine Pediatric Outreach Program and UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital, the regional Children’s Miracle Network hospital for FSU.
DM at FSU 2020 total reveal signifying the $1,941,368.54 raised “For the Kids” during the 2019-2020 academic year. Photo courtesy of DM at FSU Creative Development Team
f Left: The inaugural DM at FSU event in Tully Gym. Right: Bryan Seaquist (B.S. ’97), top row second from right, with participants at FSU’s first annual Dance Marathon in 1996. Photos courtesy of Bryan Seaquist (B.S. ’97)
FALL 2020 | VIRES 23
