Last modified: Monday, November 17, 2008
IU Dance Marathon beats record, raising $1.3 million for Riley
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 17, 2008
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Despite a struggling economy, Indiana University students showed their generous spirit at IU's 18th annual dance marathon over the weekend.
The 36-hour event, which began Nov. 14 and ended at 8 a.m. Nov. 15, raised a record $1.37 million for the Ryan White Infectious Disease Center at Riley Hospital for Children, beating last-year's record of just over $1 million.
Approximately 2,000 participants -- including students, volunteers and alumni -- helped out in roles ranging from dancing to assisting with food and music for the event, at which parents of Riley patients shared personal stories about the impact of donations to the hospital.
The fundraising total also included proceeds from five high school dance marathons, which IU helps to coordinate.
"The students, alumni and volunteers who participated in this weekend's dance marathon demonstrated remarkable generosity and amazing spirit," said IU President Michael McRobbie, who stopped by the dance marathon Saturday morning with his wife, Laurie Burns McRobbie. "Their outstanding commitment will greatly impact the lives of children throughout Indiana."
McRobbie serves on the Riley Children's Hospital Board.
IU Dance Marathon began in 1991 in honor of Ryan White, an AIDS activist and Riley Hospital for Children patient who died of AIDS in 1990. Since its inception, the event has generated more than $6 million for the Ryan White Infectious Disease Center.
For more information about Riley, a Clarian Health Partner, see https://rileychildrenshospital.com/.
View a video from the 2007 Dance Marathon: https://newsinfo.iu.edu/asset/page/normal/4073.html.
