Mini Dance Marathon

An Annual Tradition Where Miracles Are Made

By Allison Reynolds ‘01

On a Saturday night, there are many different places you can find high school students. Some may be at the mall, a sporting event, a party, a movie, or just relaxing staring at their phones. However, every March since 2013, there is one Saturday night where you will find dozens of MCC Hustlers participating in an experience that makes miracles happen. MCC Mini Dance Marathon is an annual event planned, coordinated, and attended by MCC students to raise money for Greater Orlando Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, namely Arnold Palmer Hospital. This fundraising effort is, as we say, “for the kids”.

A LITTLE HISTORY

In the fall of 2012, I was serving as Student Activities Director at Melbourne Central Catholic. I was contacted by one of my first students, Valerie Cacciatore ‘09, who was a senior at the University of Central Florida. She shared with me her passion for Knight-Thon, a fundraising effort by students at UCF benefiting the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN). She was serving as the organization’s finance director and wanted to see if MCC students would be interested in hosting a “mini” dance marathon. At the university level, students stand for twenty-plus hours at the culmination of nearly a year’s worth of seeking donations to help sick children and their families receive the life-saving care offered by hospitals like Arnold Palmer. She suggested that at the high school level, students would “stand for the kids who can’t” for less time but could still make a big impact.

I shared Valerie’s vision for a small-scale version of KnightThon with several MCC Hustlers who immediately wanted to be involved. This event would come to be known as MCC Mini Dance Marathon (MCCMDM). Alex Genna and Lauren Borell of the Class of 2014 were chosen to serve as the Directors of the “Exec Board” comprised of 10-12 other students who would take the lead in planning and organizing the event itself. That first year, we really didn’t have a clue what we were doing. We set our goal at $5000 and went to work securing donations of food, registering dancers (students who would attend the event), hosting smaller fundraisers, and creating a “Morale Dance”.

THE EVENT

Each MCCMDM is unique in its own way, however, each one has one goal in mind: encouraging students to stand for the kids who can’t. Leading up to the event, students register to be “dancers” and are motivated to procure donations to earn fundraising incentives and add to the overall total raised. Throughout the night, students may enjoy a variety of activities from being put in “jail” and “pied” in the face to dodgeball tournaments and a bounce house. Each hour of the event, the Morale Dance is performed to keep the energy up and is sometimes followed by a Miracle Story from a local Miracle family. These Miracle families are those who have directly benefited from the lifesaving resources that events like MCCMDM helped to fund. They share their story in front of sometimes hundreds of MCC Hustlers to help them understand the difference they are making.

THE REVEAL

At the end of each MCCMDM event, dancers are invited to finally take a seat and rest their weary bodies. The Exec Board is brought forward to reveal the total raised for CMN Hospitals. This culminating moment is emotional and powerful. The members of the Exec Board and Morale Team will have poured many hours of effort to help generate the number that will be held up on large posters.

Starting the night in 2013, I was nervous about our goal. Since it was the first year, our Exec Board had struggled a bit to find their way. Alex Genna recalls her most memorable moment leading up to that night. “My most memorable moment was making our shirts for the inaugural year! We didn’t have enough money to buy them, and all sponsor money went to our total, so we cut and painted the most special shirts!” These spray-painted shirts shined throughout the night with enthusiasm and excitement. What a glorious moment it was when Alex and her peers held up over $5415.

Moving into the second year and beyond, the MCCMDM Exec Board had a much clearer vision of their purpose and how to pursue their goals. Students who had been dancers the year before joined the cause as members of the Exec Board or the Morale Team. Individuals began to take it upon themselves to set their own personal fundraising goals in addition to the larger school-wide goal.

MINI DANCE MARATHON

2016 alone, MCCMDM raised over $60,000 thanks to the generous donations of local businesses, families, and the sustained efforts of many Hustlers. This tradition of selflessness and student-driven philanthropy has continued annually where each year, Hustlers work to make miracles happen in their community.

“I think my most memorable moment from MDM was in 2018 when we raised over $25,000 FTK (For The Kids) and after the event was over, all of Exec had a huge prayer circle and at that moment I felt like I had truly made such a difference,” recalls Ryan Silva ‘19.

Karen Fisher is a mom to two Miracle Children, Patrick and William. MCCMDM participants have had the honor to hear their Miracle Story and spend time with them at events. “The impact MCCMDM has is enormous. These kids are truly saving the next generation. To live a life of philanthropy is so ingrained in Catholic education and to see these kids work so hard to help save the lives of kids in Brevard County is so inspiring,” shares Karen. “My most memorable moments are seeing the joy on kids’ faces when they truly see the impact of their year-long efforts. To see their planning and creative ideas come to life makes me so proud to be a part of the CMN journey.”

THE IMPACT

As the faculty advisor for MCCMDM for many years, I would often watch in awe of these kids who put so much of their hearts into raising money that would not directly benefit them. There was no special recognition or prize to be had for doing what they did and continue to do. Yet year after year, Hustlers apply to be on the Exec Board for the coming year in hopes to continue what has become one of MCC’s best traditions. This tradition is supported by members of Knight-Thon at UCF. Each year, MCC students build relationships with mentors from UCF who coach and encourage them in their growing passion FTK.

Alex Genna recognizes the impact that MCCMDM had on her community and her own life. “The impact MCCMDM has on the community is teaching the students that there is so much that 14-18 year old students can do to help others. It impacts the community by bringing families together that have gone through these battles. It impacts the community through the students that carry on this passion to their colleges and universities. MCCMDM is a program that fueled Florida into such a prevalent state for high school marathons,” notes Alex.

Madison Donovan recalled how each aspect of preparing for MCCMDM shared the organization’s mission with others. “MCCMDM has a large impact on the community all year round, not just during dance marathon season. Through fundraising with car washes, rummage sales, standing outside of grocery stores, etc. it was made known to the whole community what the mission of MCC students was for these Children’s Miracle Network hospitals. At every fundraising event, we were able to share more information about what dance marathon means and why we have so much passion for fundraising for CMN,” shared Madison.

The Legacy 2013 – 5,415 2014 – 11,591 2015 – 23,007 2016 – 37,640 2017 – 27,062 2018 – 25,038 2019 – 27,645

2020 – We don’t talk about you know…

2021 – 10,479 2022 – 14,095

MINI DANCE MARATHON

Dance Marathons take place many times a year throughout the country, mostly at the university level. Many of our Hustler alumni have gone on to raise millions of dollars as a part of Morale Teams, Exec Boards, mentoring other high school MDMs, and more at major Dance Marathons at FSU, UF, UCF, University of Alabama, USC, and beyond. Their commitment to making miracles and being FTK did not stop when they graduated from MCC. MCCMDM sparked their passion for being a part of something greater than themselves.

Beyond this, some alumni have discovered careers through their participation in MDM. “It helped me realize my career path of being a pediatric nurse. It gave me leadership skills, a voice, and a passion for service. I’m very thankful for my roles in MCCMDM as well as University of Alabama DM,” shares former Exec Board Director Mackenzie Miller ‘18. Alyssa Palsis ‘14, former Events Director, knows “getting involved in MDM is what led me to my career as a Child Life Specialist when I was just a junior in high school. I went on to get involved in Knight-Thon at UCF and it has changed my life forever.”

In less than a decade, MCC Mini Dance Marathon has raised over $181,972. Every dollar raised has directly benefited sick children and their families who have sought treatment at Greater Orlando Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. From incubators for premature babies to supplying the Child Life Specialists with toys and games for recovering children, miracles have been made and lives have been changed.

“From seeing how much MCCMDM grew over my four years of being on the Exec Board, I can easily say this will not be an experience I will ever forget. Whenever I look back on my years in high school, the main thing I remember is MCCMDM and everything that revolved around it,” recalls Madison. “This organization introduced me to so many wonderful people that I still keep in touch with today. Now that I have been out of high school for 6 years, it amazes me how so many high schoolers put in so much time, effort, sweat, and tears into fundraising for struggling families while loving every second of it. I think this says a lot about the MCC students!”

Karen Fisher adds, “MCCMDM helps create the leaders of tomorrow. It instills the Catholic ideal of a generous spirit and giving back. I firmly believe that my kids would not be here today without the hard work of the MCCMDM. Their hard work provides such a gift to the kids of Central Florida.”

As I scrolled through the many pictures from MCCMDM over the years while I prepared to write this article, I couldn’t stop smiling. The countless moments and memories where teenagers exceeded all expectations continue to leave a lasting impression. March 2023 will mark the ten-year anniversary of this amazing philanthropy. It is my hope and prayer that it will be an opportunity for MCCMDM alumni from 2013 and beyond to reignite their passion for the cause. If you are interested in being involved in this very special event, contact Tessie Wilkie at wilkiet@melbournecc. org. Please consider spending part of one more Saturday night in Hustler Gymnasium with an amazing group of young people making miracles by standing for the kids who can’t.

MINI DANCE MARATHON